Defective pgsA contributes to increased membrane fluidity and cell wall thickening in S. aureus with high-level daptomycin resistance (Updated February 14, 2024).

A recent preprint abstract discusses the mechanisms of daptomycin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium that causes infections. Daptomycin is an important antibiotic used as a last resort when other treatments fail. The study found that mutations in specific genes, such as mprF, yycG, and pgsA, contribute to daptomycin resistance. The resistant strain showed changes in its cell envelope, including increased membrane fluidity and cell wall thickness. The researchers also discovered that supplementing the culture broth with certain fatty acids could partially reverse the resistance. However, it is important to note that this study has not yet undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]