Becker K Project

Host-adapted metabolism of Staphylococcus aureus Small-Colony Variants

Becker, Karsten · Münster

 

Projektbeschreibung:

Staphylococcus aureus small-colony variants (SCVs) represent a phenotypic subpopulation typically associated with chronic and persistent infections. These variants seem to be specifically adapted for an intracellular life style. Using site-directed mutants in hemin and menadione biosynthesis mimicking the phenotype of clinically derived hemin- and menadione-auxotrophic SCVs, first insights into the SCV physiology were previously gained by transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches. However, the metabolism of clinically derived SCVs is still unstudied. Here, the dynamic metabolic changes caused by the bidirectional phenotypic switch between the normal and the SCV phenotype will be investigated with special regard to the adaption of the SCV phenotype on the intracellular host cell milieu. For this purpose, the provoked phenotype switch will be traced by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and the pathogen's intracellular adaption will be analyzed by bioanalytical and systemsbiological approaches. In parallel, the host cell response on invasion and persistence by S. aureus will be analyzed. Finally, a controlled switch of the S. aureus phenotype by the application of electron transport-influencing compounds will be studied to open up alternative ways for the therapy of acute and chronic S. aureus infections.

 

Publication:

Kriegeskorte A, König S, Sander G, Pirkl A, Mahabir E, Proctor RA, von Eiff C,
Peters G, Becker K. Small colony variants of Staphylococcus aureus reveal
distinct protein profiles. Proteomics. 2011 Jun;11(12):2476-90. doi:
10.1002/pmic.201000796. Epub 2011 May 18. PubMed PMID: 21595038.

 

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Karsten Becker

Leitender Oberarzt

 

Universitätsklinikum Münster

Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie

Domagkstr. 10

D-48149 Münster

Tel.: (0251) 83 55375

FAX: (0251) 83 55350

kbecker@uni-muenster.de