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Air pollution induces Staphylococcus aureus USA300 respiratory tract colonization mediated by specific bacterial genetic responses involving the global virulence gene regulators Agr and Sae.
- Source :
-
Environmental microbiology [Environ Microbiol] 2022 Sep; Vol. 24 (9), pp. 4449-4465. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Jun 01. - Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Exposure to particulate matter (PM), a major component of air pollution, is associated with exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease, and infectious diseases such as community-acquired pneumonia. Although PM can cause adverse health effects through direct damage to host cells, our previous study showed that PM can also impact bacterial behaviour by promoting in vivo colonization. In this study we describe the genetic mechanisms involved in the bacterial response to exposure to black carbon (BC), a constituent of PM found in most sources of air pollution. We show that Staphylococcus aureus strain USA300 LAC grown in BC prior to inoculation showed increased murine respiratory tract colonization and pulmonary invasion in vivo, as well as adhesion and invasion of human epithelial cells in vitro. Global transcriptional analysis showed that BC has a widespread effect on S. aureus transcriptional responses, altering the regulation of the major virulence gene regulators Sae and Agr and causing increased expression of genes encoding toxins, proteases and immune evasion factors. Together these data describe a previously unrecognized causative mechanism of air pollution-associated infection, in that exposure to BC can increase bacterial colonization and virulence factor expression by acting directly on the bacterium rather than via the host.<br /> (© 2022 The Authors. Environmental Microbiology published by Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Bacterial Proteins genetics
Bacterial Proteins metabolism
Carbon metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
Humans
Mice
Particulate Matter metabolism
Peptide Hydrolases genetics
Respiratory System metabolism
Staphylococcus aureus genetics
Staphylococcus aureus metabolism
Virulence genetics
Virulence Factors metabolism
Air Pollution
Staphylococcal Infections microbiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1462-2920
- Volume :
- 24
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Environmental microbiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 35642645
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.16076