Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michelle Su, Michelle H. Davis, Jessica Peterson, Claudia Solis-Lemus, Sarah W. Satola, Timothy D. Read
Summary: VISA resistance is typically caused by accumulation of chromosomal mutations in six common genes, but the effect of these mutations on fitness and resistance contribution varies among different strain backgrounds.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Yu-Ching Liu, Jang-Jih Lu, Lee-Chung Lin, Hsiao-Chuan Lin, Chao-Jung Chen
Summary: The rapid identification of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (hVISA), and vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) is crucial for accurate treatment, timely intervention, and outbreak prevention. Proteomics analysis of 90 S. aureus isolates led to the discovery of protein biomarkers that can discriminate among MSSA, hVISA, and VISA strains, with two VISA, two hVISA, and one MSSA protein biomarkers identified and verified for high sensitivities and specificities. Data is available via MassIVE with identifier MSV000085776.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Isabella Hernandez-Aristizabal, Ivan Dario Ocampo-Ibanez
Summary: The emergence of bacteria resistant to conventional antibiotics, especially VRSA and VISA strains, poses a serious threat to global health. Developing new antimicrobial alternatives, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), is urgently needed as a promising therapeutic strategy to combat resistant strains. Evaluating natural, artificial, and synthetic AMPs against VRSA and VISA strains shows great potential for clinical application.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Reena Lamichhane-Khadka, Santosh Dulal, Jesus A. Cuaron, Richard Pfeltz, Sushim Kumar Gupta, Brian J. Wilkinson, John E. Gustafson
Summary: Comparative genomic sequencing of two laboratory-derived vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) strains (MM66-3 and MM66-4) revealed unique mutations compared to the parent strain MM66. Transcriptional profiling showed similar changes in both VISA strains, including reduced autolysis, growth in the presence of salt, and virulence factor activity. Mutations in the key gene apt may play a role in altered adenine metabolism in VISA strains.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jin Liang, Yuanfang Hu, Mingxia Fu, Na Li, Fengxia Wang, Xiaojun Yu, Bing Ji
Summary: The study investigated the molecular epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in patients from the Yellow River Delta region and examined antibiotic resistance profiles in different genetic backgrounds. Antibiotic susceptibility testing, spa typing, and agr typing were conducted on all 204 strains. The results identified 39 MRSA strains and 22 hVISA isolates. The majority of MRSA isolates belonged to agrI and were associated with type IV SCCmec. The most common genotypes among MRSA population were ST59-t437-agrI-IVa and ST72-t2431-agrI-IVF. The study highlights the genetic diversity and drug resistance patterns among MSSA strains exhibiting phenotypic hVISA.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Alina Dietrich, Ursula Steffens, Mike Gajdiss, Anna-Lena Boschert, Jana Katharina Droege, Christiane Szekat, Peter Sass, Imran T. Malik, Jan Bornikoel, Laura Reinke, Boris Macek, Mirita Franz-Wachtel, Kay Nieselt, Theresa Harbig, Kirstin Scherlach, Heike Broetz-Oesterhelt, Christian Hertweck, Hans-Georg Sahl, Gabriele Bierbaum
Summary: Resistance to antibiotics is a growing problem and alternative antimicrobial therapies are needed. Cervimycin, a polyketide antibiotic, shows promising activity against multidrug-resistant staphylococci and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. This study identified the Clp system and the essential kinase WalK as mutational hotspots for cervimycin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, cervimycin-resistant strains exhibited vancomycin-intermediate resistance phenotype, suggesting a role of cervimycin in perturbing the bacterial cell envelope.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yifan Rao, Huagang Peng, Weilong Shang, Zhen Hu, Yi Yang, Li Tan, Ming Li, Renjie Zhou, Xiancai Rao
Summary: The WalK(S221P) mutation enhances vancomycin resistance and decreases virulence in Staphylococcus aureus.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jiade Zhu, Banghui Liu, Xueqin Shu, Baolin Sun
Summary: Through comparative genome analysis, this study identified 10 mutations in 9 genes and verified the role of a novel mutation, WalK (I237T), in conferring VISA characteristics in MSSA. The mutation resulted in thickened cell walls, reduced autolysis, attenuated virulence, and altered gene expression associated with cell wall metabolism and virulence control. Further assays showed that WalK can directly bind to specific promoter regions and regulate gene expression, providing insight into the molecular mechanisms of developmental VISA resistance in MSSA with point mutations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Shawna McCallin, Carmen Menzi, Swenja Lassen, Jean Daraspe, Frank Oechslin, Philippe Moreillon
Summary: In Vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA), exposure to vancomycin may lead to cross-resistance to phage. VISA strains with intermediate levels of vancomycin resistance showed decreased sensitivity to phage. Serial passaging with vancomycin induced reduced vancomycin susceptibility and phage sensitivity. Understanding the interference between antibiotic and phage resistance mechanisms is important for designing effective therapeutic regimens.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Abraham G. Moller, Robert A. Petit III, Michelle H. Davis, Timothy D. Read
Summary: This study developed a method for rapid detection of vancomycin-intermediate resistance in Staphylococcus aureus through long-read genomic sequencing. The method can identify VISA genotypes and incorporate a comprehensive database of VISA genetic determinants.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Mohammad Ejaz, Muhammad Ali Syed, Charlene R. Jackson, Mehmoona Sharif, Rani Faryal
Summary: Staphylococcus aureus is a multidrug-resistant pathogen, with vancomycin often used as the last resort treatment for infections. However, overuse and misuse of vancomycin have led to resistance among S. aureus strains. South Asia, with its large population and limited healthcare infrastructure, is prone to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. This article briefly discusses the mechanism of vancomycin resistance, its emergence in S. aureus, and the molecular epidemiology of non-susceptible S. aureus to vancomycin in the South Asian region.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pooi Yin Chung, Pey Lin Narissa Loh, Hui-min Neoh, Ramliza Ramli
Summary: Staphylococcus aureus is a significant threat to human health and has developed resistance to conventional antimicrobials. The presence of biofilms complicates treatment for infections caused by multi-drug resistant S. aureus. Alpha-amyrin has been shown to reduce biomass and inhibit metabolic activity of S. aureus. This study demonstrates that alpha-amyrin can reduce biofilm biomass of MSSA, MRSA, and VISA isolates, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for chronic S. aureus infections.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jian Hu, Xinjun Han, Xiaoxue Ma, Xutao Chen, Zhenping Zhou, Peilan Peng, Zhao Yu, Yongzhi Hou, Peiru Han, Long Pang, Yali Yang, Jia Xu, Wenhui Wu
Summary: This study aimed to explore the molecular causes of vancomycin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus through proteomics analysis. The results identified several regulatory proteins associated with cell metabolism and function that were altered with vancomycin treatment, providing potential targets for the management of vancomycin resistance in S. aureus.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Wan-Ting Liu, En-Zhong Chen, Ling Yang, Chen Peng, Qun Wang, Zhenbo Xu, Ding-Qiang Chen
Summary: Staphylococcus aureus is a major concern in global public health, with the emergence of drug-resistant strains posing a significant therapeutic challenge. Overuse of the first-line drug vancomycin has led to an increase in resistant strains. Studies have reported on the mechanisms of resistance to vancomycin, daptomycin, ceftaroline, and linezolid, which will aid in the development of new drugs for effective MRSA treatment.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Gen Li, Mark J. Walker, David M. P. De Oliveira
Summary: This review discusses the epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus and S. aureus in healthcare, community, and agricultural settings, explores vancomycin resistance in the context of van and non-van mediated resistance development, and provides insights into alternative therapeutic approaches aimed at treating drug-resistant Enterococcus and S. aureus infections.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yanguang Cong, Sijin Yang, Xiancai Rao
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Immunology
Weilong Shang, Yi Yang, Yifan Rao, Xiancai Rao
Article
Microbiology
Leigiong Gao, Yanguang Cong, Gregory Plano, Xiancai Rao, Lyndsey N. Gisclair, Sara Schesser Bartra, Megan A. Macnaughtan, Li Shen
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Juan Chen, Huyue Zhou, Jingbin Huang, Rong Zhang, Xiancai Rao
Summary: This review explores the impact of sub-MICs of antibiotics on the virulence of Staphylococcus aureus, focusing on various aspects such as changes in cell morphology, virulence factor expression, bacterial adherence and invasion, biofilm formation, and small-colony variant production. Antibiotics at sub-MIC levels can alter bacterial virulence in S. aureus, leading to deformed cells, abnormal immune responses, and changes in disease development. The study also addresses the mechanisms underlying these antibiotic-induced alterations in virulence.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Li Qiao, Yi Yang, Keting Zhu, Yifan Rao, Gang Li, Xiancai Rao, Ming Li, Renjie Zhou
Summary: The SigB(Q225P) mutation in Staphylococcus aureus increases membrane vesicle (MVs) production, possibly due to reduced binding of SigB to the thermonuclease gene (nuc) promoter and decreased Nuc expression. This finding sheds light on the biogenesis of MVs in S. aureus and has implications for the development of a MV-based platform for this important pathogen.
CURRENT MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Li Qiao, Yifan Rao, Keting Zhu, Xiancai Rao, Renjie Zhou
Summary: Bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs) are nanoscale vesicular structures produced by bacteria, which can stimulate immune response. Genetic modification of vesicle-producing bacteria has been studied to improve vesicle immunogenicity and yield. The engineered MVs have broad applications in vaccine and drug delivery systems.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yifan Rao, Huagang Peng, Weilong Shang, Zhen Hu, Yi Yang, Li Tan, Ming Li, Renjie Zhou, Xiancai Rao
Summary: The WalK(S221P) mutation enhances vancomycin resistance and decreases virulence in Staphylococcus aureus.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Huyue Zhou, Yi Yang, Weilong Shang, Yifan Rao, Juan Chen, Huagang Peng, Jingbin Huang, Zhen Hu, Rong Zhang, Xiancai Rao
Summary: This study investigated the sterilization effect of a portable cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) device on different P. aeruginosa strains, and found that pyocyanin and its intermediate play important roles in P. aeruginosa resistance to CAP treatment.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Shengzhe Zhou, Yifan Rao, Jia Li, Qiaoyi Huang, Xiancai Rao
Summary: This review summarizes the significance of genetic mutations involved in diverse biosynthesis pathways that contribute to the promotion of small-colony variants (SCVs) of Staphylococcus aureus (Sau). It addresses the persistent infections caused by Sau-SCVs and discusses the prospects and challenges in their treatment. The progress in managing Sau-SCVs may provide guidance for addressing long-term and recurrent infections caused by other bacterial SCVs.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jiao Zou, Weilong Shang, Ling Yang, Tianyao Liu, Lian Wang, Xin Li, Jinghui Zhao, Xiancai Rao, Junwei Gao, Xiaotang Fan
Summary: This study found that S. aureus USA300 infection can lead to neuroinflammation in the mPFC of mice, which may contribute to the development of anxiety.
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mingxia Zheng, Keting Zhu, Huagang Peng, Weilong Shang, Yan Zhao, Shuguang Lu, Xiancai Rao, Ming Li, Renjie Zhou, Gang Li
Summary: This study elucidates a novel model of CcpA-controlled Staphylococcus aureus biofilm through direct inhibition of staphylokinase expression, highlighting the multifaceted roles and multiple networks regulated by CcpA.
Article
Microbiology
Qixuan Su, Ping Cheng, Jiyuan Sun, Yulin Zhang, Yang Zheng, Xiao-Ran Jiang, Xiancai Rao
Summary: In this study, H. bluephagenesis strain was engineered to produce lycopene by introducing a heterologous MVA pathway. By optimizing downstream genes and promoters, the lycopene yield was significantly increased to 1.22 mg/g. This research demonstrates that genetic engineering and optimization of production systems can enhance lycopene overproduction.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Keting Zhu, Gang Li, Jia Li, Mingxia Zheng, Xiaohui Peng, Yifan Rao, Ming Li, Renjie Zhou, Xiancai Rao
Summary: A new strategy for developing a vaccine against B. pseudomallei melioidosis was found, and staphylococcal membrane vesicles incorporating Hcp1 were identified as a promising candidate for prevention of acute melioidosis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Li Tan, Yi Yang, Weilong Shang, Zhen Hu, Huagang Peng, Shu Li, Xiaomei Hu, Xiancai Rao
Summary: The study identified lysine succinylation (Ksucc) and acetylation (Kac) sites in vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) and revealed their enrichment in critical metabolic pathways. The cross talk between Ksucc and Kac modifications was observed, and a bifunctional enzyme, SaCobB, with both deacetylation and desuccinylation activities was identified. These findings provide valuable insights into the regulatory mechanisms of PTMs in Staphylococcus aureus.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Lu Liu, Huagang Peng, Naan Zhang, Mengyang Li, Zhaozhe Chen, Weilong Shang, Zhen Hu, Yuting Wang, Yi Yang, Dongmei Wang, Qiwen Hu, Xiancai Rao
Summary: This study investigated the genomic and phenotypic characteristics of 201 Staphylococcus aureus isolates collected from a tertiary hospital in Tianjin, China. The predominant clones identified were ST59, ST398, and ST5527, with ST59 and ST5527 mainly including MRSA isolates, while ST398 and other major clones mainly including MSSA isolates. The different clones exhibited unique characteristics that could aid in disease control.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)