Regulation of carbon metabolism in staphylococci: The impact of catabolite control protein A and related factors on pathogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Markus Bischoff
• Subject Area: Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens
• Term: from 2008 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 71758911

Carbon catabolism-affecting factors have been shown in many bacteria to influence virulence and pathogenesis. We recently identified the catabolite control protein A (CcpA) in Staphylococcus aureus, which is thought to be the major regulator of carbon catabolite repression (CCR) in Gram-positive bacteria. During the first funding period, we could show that the deletion of this regulator affected carbon metabolism, virulence determinant production, and infectivity of this pathogen. Aim of the second funding period of this project is now the characterization of the regulatory control of this DNA-binding protein in S. aureus, its impact on infections that are frequent in diabetic patients, and its role in persistence within its host. We will also try to identify the transcriptional changes that occur during the early adaptation processes of S. aureus within its host, and we are planning to characterize further carbon metabolism-affecting regulators of this organism, such as CitR, Hpr, and CodY. The proposed work will yield detailed insights into metabolic processes that are effective within S. aureus and its host during invasion and persistence, and into regulatory circuits that link carbon metabolism and virulence in this pathogen.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1316: Host-adapted Metabolism of Bacterial Pathogens
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Mathias Herrmann