Changes in the Cytoplasmic Composition of Amino Acids and Proteins Observed in Staphylococcus aureus during Growth under Variable Growth Conditions Representative of the Human Wound Site

PLoS One. 2016 Jul 21;11(7):e0159662. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159662. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for a high proportion of nosocomial infections. This study was conducted to assess the bacterial responses in the cytoplasmic composition of amino acids and ribosomal proteins under various environmental conditions designed to mimic those on the human skin or within a wound site: pH6-8, temperature 35-37°C, and additional 0-5% NaCl. It was found that each set of environmental conditions elicited substantial adjustments in cytoplasmic levels of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, alanine and glycine (P< 0.05). These alterations generated characteristic amino acid profiles assessed by principle component analysis (PCA). Substantial alterations in cytoplasmic amino acid and protein composition occurred during growth under conditions of higher salinity stress implemented via additional levels of NaCl in the growth medium. The cells responded to additional NaCl at pH 6 by reducing levels of ribosomal proteins, whereas at pH 8 there was an upregulation of ribosomal proteins compared with the reference control. The levels of two ribosomal proteins, L32 and S19, remained constant across all experimental conditions. The data supported the hypothesis that the bacterium was continually responding to the dynamic environment by modifying the proteome and optimising metabolic homeostasis.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / metabolism*
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Reference Standards
  • Ribosomal Proteins / metabolism
  • Staphylococcus aureus / growth & development*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / metabolism*
  • Wounds and Injuries / microbiology*
  • Wounds and Injuries / pathology

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Ribosomal Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education and University of Hail, Saudi Arabia. MA This was a PhD Scholarship. This was also supported by Harold Stannet Williams and Judith Mason Research Foundation (http://www.anz.com.au/resources/2/f/2fce2b804a47773887c8cfac93b0266b/MasonNatMedGuidelines.pdf?CACHEID=2fce2b804a47773887c8cfac93b0266b), Gideon Lang Research Foundation and the University of Newcastle, (grant no. G0189306) Australia funds for post-graduate research. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.