Regulatory Mutations Impacting Antibiotic Susceptibility in an Established Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm

Abstract

We previously determined the extent to which mutations of different Staphylococcus aureus regulatory loci impact biofilm formation as assessed under in vitro conditions. Here we extend these studies to determine the extent to which those regulatory loci that had the greatest effect on biofilm formation also impact antibiotic susceptibility. The experiments were done under in vitro and in vivo conditions using two clinical isolates of S. aureus (LAC and UAMS-1) and two functionally diverse antibiotics (daptomycin and ceftaroline). Mutation of the staphylococcal accessory regulator ( sarA ) or sigB was found to significantly increase susceptibilities to both antibiotics and in both strains in a manner that could not be explained by changes in the MICs. The impact of a mutation in sarA was comparable to that of a mutation in sigB and greater than the impact observed with any other mutant. These results suggest that therapeutic strategies targeting sarA and/or sigB have the greatest potential to facilitate the ability to overcome the intrinsic antibiotic resistance that defines S. aureus biofilm-associated infections.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2016
Source ID
10.1128/aac.02750-15

Entities

People

  • Daniel G. Meeker
  • Danielle N Atwood
  • Horace J. Spencer
  • Karen E. Beenken
  • Mark S Smeltzer
  • Tamara L. Lantz
  • Weston B. Mills
  • William B. Lynn

Organizations

  • Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
  • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Microbial Pathology
  • Molecular Genetics

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology