Abstract
The important human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is known to spread on soft agar plates. Here, we show that colony spreading of S. aureus involves the agr quorum-sensing system. This finding can be related to the agr-dependent expression of biosurfactants, such as phenol-soluble modulins, suggesting a connection between spreading motility and virulence.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Bacterial Proteins / genetics
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Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / physiology*
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Mutation
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Quorum Sensing / physiology
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Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
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Staphylococcus aureus / growth & development
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Staphylococcus aureus / metabolism*
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Surface-Active Agents / metabolism
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Trans-Activators / genetics
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Trans-Activators / metabolism*
Substances
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Agr protein, Staphylococcus aureus
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Bacterial Proteins
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Surface-Active Agents
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Trans-Activators