The induction of natural competence adapts staphylococcal metabolism to infection

Mar Cordero, Julia García-Fernández, Ivan C. Acosta, Ana Yepes, Jose Avendano-Ortiz, Clivia Lisowski, Babett Oesterreicht, Knut Ohlsen, Eduardo Lopez-Collazo, Konrad U. Förstner, Ana Eulalio and Daniel Lopez ()
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Mar Cordero: Spanish National Research Council (CNB-CSIC)
Julia García-Fernández: Spanish National Research Council (CNB-CSIC)
Ivan C. Acosta: Spanish National Research Council (CNB-CSIC)
Ana Yepes: University of Würzburg
Jose Avendano-Ortiz: IdiPaz La Paz University Hospital
Clivia Lisowski: University of Würzburg
Babett Oesterreicht: University of Würzburg
Knut Ohlsen: University of Würzburg
Eduardo Lopez-Collazo: IdiPaz La Paz University Hospital
Konrad U. Förstner: University of Würzburg
Ana Eulalio: University of Würzburg
Daniel Lopez: Spanish National Research Council (CNB-CSIC)

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Abstract A central question concerning natural competence is why orthologs of competence genes are conserved in non-competent bacterial species, suggesting they have a role other than in transformation. Here we show that competence induction in the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus occurs in response to ROS and host defenses that compromise bacterial respiration during infection. Bacteria cope with reduced respiration by obtaining energy through fermentation instead. Since fermentation is energetically less efficient than respiration, the energy supply must be assured by increasing the glycolytic flux. The induction of natural competence increases the rate of glycolysis in bacteria that are unable to respire via upregulation of DNA- and glucose-uptake systems. A competent-defective mutant showed no such increase in glycolysis, which negatively affects its survival in both mouse and Galleria infection models. Natural competence foster genetic variability and provides S. aureus with additional nutritional and metabolic possibilities, allowing it to proliferate during infection.

Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-29206-7

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29206-7

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