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PMID: 12730182 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Alpha-toxin is required for biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus.

Journal of bacteriology ·Vol. 185 ·No. 10 ·2003-05-00 ·Pages 3214-7

Caiazza NC, O'Toole GA

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen associated with nosocomial infections. It can persist in clinical settings and gain increased resistance to antimicrobial agents through biofilm formation. We have found that alpha-toxin, a secreted, multimeric, hemolytic toxin encoded by the hla gene, plays an integral role in biofilm formation. The hla mutant was unable to fully colonize plastic surfaces under both static and flow conditions. Based on microscopy studies, we propose that alpha-hemolysin is required for cell-to-cell interactions during biofilm formation.

MeSH Terms
Bacterial Toxins/genetics,metabolism Biofilms/growth & development Hemolysin Proteins/genetics,metabolism Microscopy, Phase-Contrast Mutation Phenotype Polysaccharides, Bacterial/genetics,metabolism Staphylococcus aureus/genetics,physiology
Chemicals
Bacterial Toxins Hemolysin Proteins Polysaccharides, Bacterial polysaccharide intercellular adhesin staphylococcal alpha-toxin
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Caiazza Nicky C
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA.
O'Toole G A
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Article Info
Journal
Journal of bacteriology
Abbr.
J Bacteriol
ISSN
0021-9193
DOI
10.1128/JB.185.10.3214-3217.2003
Published
2003-05-00
Pages
3214-7
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
2985120R
PMCID
PMC154062
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1128/JB.185.10.3214-3217.2003 PMC Full Text View journal details
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