Abstract
We present a simple assay to examine effects of compounds on virulence gene expression in the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. The assay employs transcriptional reporter strains carrying lacZ fused to central virulence genes. Compounds affecting virulence gene expression and activity of the agr locus are scored based on color change in the presence of a chromogenic beta-galactosidase substrate. The assay can be used to screen for novel antivirulence compounds from many different sources, such as fungi, as demonstrated here.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
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Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
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Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
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Fungi / drug effects
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Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / drug effects
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Glucose / pharmacology
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Lac Operon / genetics
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Quorum Sensing / drug effects
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Quorum Sensing / genetics
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RNA, Bacterial / biosynthesis
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RNA, Bacterial / genetics
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Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
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Staphylococcus aureus / genetics*
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Staphylococcus aureus / pathogenicity
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Trans-Activators / metabolism
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Virulence Factors / biosynthesis*
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Virulence Factors / genetics
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beta-Galactosidase / metabolism
Substances
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Agr protein, Staphylococcus aureus
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Bacterial Proteins
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RNA, Bacterial
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Trans-Activators
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Virulence Factors
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beta-Galactosidase
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Glucose