Global analysis of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus exoproteins reveals molecules produced in vitro and during infection

Cell Microbiol. 2007 May;9(5):1172-90. doi: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2006.00858.x. Epub 2007 Jan 9.

Abstract

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is a threat to human health worldwide. Although progress has been made, mechanisms of CA-MRSA pathogenesis are poorly understood and a comprehensive analysis of CA-MRSA exoproteins has not been conducted. To address that deficiency, we used proteomics to identify exoproteins made by MW2 (USA400) and LAC (USA300) during growth in vitro. Two hundred and fifty unique exoproteins were identified by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with automated direct infusion-tandem mass spectrometry (ADI-MS/MS) analysis. Eleven known virulence-related exoproteins differed in abundance between the strains, including alpha-haemolysin (Hla), collagen adhesin (Cna), staphylokinase (Sak), coagulase (Coa), lipase (Lip), enterotoxin C3 (Sec3), enterotoxin Q (Seq), V8 protease (SspA) and cysteine protease (SspB). Mice infected with MW2 or LAC produced antibodies specific for known or putative virulence factors, such as autolysin (Atl), Cna, Ear, ferritin (Ftn), Lip, 1-phosphatidylinositol phosphodiesterase (Plc), Sak, Sec3 and SspB, indicating the exoproteins are made during infection in vivo. We used confocal microscopy to demonstrate aureolysin (Aur), Hla, SspA and SspB are produced following phagocytosis by human neutrophils, thereby linking exoprotein production in vitro with that during host-pathogen interaction. We conclude that the exoproteins identified herein likely account in part for the success of CA-MRSA as a human pathogen.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Proteins / analysis*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Exotoxins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Isoelectric Focusing
  • Methicillin / pharmacology*
  • Methicillin Resistance*
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Neutrophils / microbiology
  • Proteomics / methods
  • Sequence Analysis, Protein
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus aureus / metabolism*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / pathogenicity
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Exotoxins
  • Methicillin