Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of nosocomial and community associated infections. The organismowes its ability to cause disease to the production of a repertoire of virulence- and antibiotic resistance-determinants, as well as its adaptability to environmental challenges. Our long term goal is to define theregulatory mechanisms that control S. aureus pathogenicity. Classically, S. aureus virulence factor expressionhas been considered to be regulated at the level of transcript synthesis. The specific hypothesis of thisproposal is that S. aureus regulates these factors by modulating their mRNA turnover. This hypothesis isbased on the following observations: 1) we have shown that S. aureus regulates the mRNA turnover of mRNAspecies, including most recognized virulence factors, in response to endogenous and exogenous cues, 2) ourpreliminary data establish that alterations in mRNA decay correlate with changes in protein production, 3) wehave found that the organism produces several molecular components that, by virtue of analogous systems,are likely to transiently affect mRNA turnover, and 4) modulation of mRNA turnover is a common mechanism ofregulating protein production in other bacterial pathogens.
The specific aims of this proposal are:1. Characterize factors that govern log-phase (native) S. aureus mRNA turnover. We believe that the nativeRNA turnover functions can be altered in response to conditions that the organism faces during pathogenesis.As a prerequisite to determining how these functions are altered, it is crucial to understand the principlecomponents of native mRNA turnover; they will be identified.2. Identify factors that transiently modulate mRNA turnover. Small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs), RNA bindingproteins, and RNA degradation machinery auxiliary factors influence mRNA turnover and translation withinother bacterial pathogens. Our preliminary data indicate that several, if not all, of these RNA turnovermodulatory factors exist within S. aureus. We will define the effects of S. aureus sRNA-like molecules onmRNA expression, mRNA turnover and protein production. Moreover, we will identify other trans-acting factorsthat mediate alterations in S. aureus virulence factor mRNA stability.3. Characterize the effects of modulating mRNA stability on virulence factor protein production.
Results of these studies will identify factors that are involved in Staphylococcus aureus disease processes. Inhibiting these factors may yield new therapeutic agents for the treatment of S. aureus infections.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 18 publications
