Project description:We examined the differential gene expression of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus epidermidis in dual species biofilms. Therefore, we performed RNA-Seq on single and dual species biofilms and we compared the gene expression levels in dual species biofilms to those in single species biofilms.
Project description:CodY is a conserved broad acting transcriptional factor that regulates the expression of genes related to amino acid metabolism and virulence in Staphylococcus aureus. CodY target genes have been studied by using in vitro DNA affinity purification and deep sequencing (IDAP-Seq). In this study we performed the first in vivo determination of CodY target genes using a novel CodY monoclonal antibody in established ChIP-exo protocols. Our results showed, 1) The same 165 CodY target genes in both strains; 2) That the differential binding intensity for the same target genes under the same conditions were due to sequence differences in the same CodY binding site in the two strains; 3) Based on transcriptomic data, a CodY regulon comprising 72 target genes that revealed that CodY is mainly involved in amino acid transport and metabolism, inorganic ion transport and metabolism, and cellular transcription and translation; and 4) CodY systematically regulated central metabolic flux to generate branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) by mapping the CodY regulon onto a genome-scale metabolic model of S. aureus. Our study performed the first system-level analysis of CodY in two closely related dominant USA300 TCH1516 and LAC strains, thus expanding the size of the known CodY regulon, and giving new insights into the similarities and differences of CodY regulatory roles between closely related strains.
Project description:CodY is a highly conserved global transcriptional factor that regulates the expression of dozens of genes related to metabolism and virulence in Staphylococcus aureus. The S. aureus CodY regulon has been studied in vitro. However, in vivo CodY DNA-binding activity and the identity of the corresponding target genes remain unknown due to lack of a ChIP-grade monoclonal antibody. Using a novel CodY monoclonal antibody that we developed in established ChIP-exo protocols, we report in vivo target genes of CodY in two S. aureus USA300 clinical strains (TCH1516 and LAC). The total number of CodY-binding sites exceeded 110, but their location varied between the two strains. The majority of the identified binding sites were located within the promoter regions. Based on the sequences of the CodY-binding sites, a model of CodY interaction with DNA is proposed. Furthermore, S. aureus CodY protein is highly conserved across a G+C Gram-positive species, including Bacillus subtilis and Listeria monocytogenes, and thus this study paves the way for exploration of the differential binding of CodY among a range of gram-positive species, including pathogenic ones
Project description:Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease with a TH2 immune polarity and is often colonized with Staphylococcus aureus. Despite recent advances in understanding Staphylococcus species infection and the impact of polar TH cytokines on the skin, the interactions between these factors in AD pathology are poorly understood. Methods: AD-related key immune biomarkers were measured by quantitative real-time PCR in human keratinocytes exposed heat-killed S. epidermidis or S. aureus with/without polar T-cell derived cytokines such as IFN-γ (TH1), IL-4/IL-13 (TH2), and IL-22 (TH22). Further analysis was performed by RNA-sequencing to define broader responses in both Staphylococcus species and polar cytokines. The similarity of gene expression patterns in AD skin lesions and stimulated keratinocytes was evaluated by gene-set variation analysis (GSVA). Results: Gene expression analysis exhibited distinct immune responses in keratinocytes depending on individual bacterial or polar cytokine exposure. Besides, numerous genes were synergistically upregulated by the combination exposure of bacteria and polar TH cytokines. Moreover, GSVA revealed that combined exposure of S. aureus and IL-4 + IL-13 exhibited significantly higher correlations with a genomic signature of AD skin lesions than their single exposure or combinations of other polar TH cytokines. Conclusions: Our findings provide novel insights into AD-related transcriptional activation and illustrate a potentially novel pathogenic function of S. aureus and IL-4/IL-13 interactions in AD.