Title (en)
Cross-species communication via agr controls phage susceptibility in Staphylococcus aureus
Language
English
Description (en)
Bacteria use quorum sensing (QS) to coordinate group behavior in response to cell density, and some bacterial viruses (phages) also respond to QS. In Staphylococcus aureus, the agr-encoded QS system relies on accumulation of auto-inducing cyclic peptides (AIPs). Other staphylococci also produce AIPs of which many inhibit S. aureus agr. We show that agr induction reduces expression of tarM, encoding a glycosyltransferase responsible for α-N-acetylglucosamine modification of the major S. aureus phage receptor, the wall teichoic acids. This allows lytic phage Stab20 and related phages to infect and kill S. aureus. However, in mixed communities, producers of inhibitory AIPs like S. haemolyticus, S. caprae, and S. pseudintermedius inhibit S. aureus agr, thereby impeding phage infection. Our results demonstrate that cross-species interactions dramatically impact phage susceptibility. These interactions likely influence microbial ecology and impact the efficacy of phages in medical and biotechnological applications such as phage therapy.
Keywords (en)
Humans; Staphylococcus aureusmetabolism; Bacteriophagesmetabolism; Staphylococcusmetabolism; Glycosyltransferasesmetabolism; Staphylococcal Infections; Bacterial Proteinsmetabolism; Quorum Sensing
DOI
10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113154
Author of the digital object
Jingxian Yang  (University of Copenhagen)
Hanne Ingmer  (University of Copenhagen)
Andreas Peschel  (University of Tübingen / German Center for Infection Research)
Tom Grunert  (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna)
Martin Saxtorph Bojer  (University of Copenhagen)
Stephanie Fulaz Silva  (University of Copenhagen)
Janine Zara Bowring  (University of Copenhagen)
Janes Krusche  (University of Tübingen / German Center for Infection Research)
Esther Lehmann  (University of Copenhagen)
Benjamin Svejdal Bejder  (University of Copenhagen)
Format
application/pdf
Size
3.6 MB
Licence Selected
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International
Type of publication
Article
Name of Publication (en)
Cell reports
Pages or Volume
13
Volume
42
Number
9
Publisher
Cell Press
Publication Date
2023