Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
A Novel Abi-Domain Protein Controls Virulence Determinant Production In Staphylococcus Aureus, Stephanie Michelle Marroquin
A Novel Abi-Domain Protein Controls Virulence Determinant Production In Staphylococcus Aureus, Stephanie Michelle Marroquin
USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations
A major factor in the success of Staphylococcus aureus as a pathogen is its vast arsenal of virulence determinants and, more importantly, the tight and precisely- timed regulation of these factors. Here we investigate the product of the S. aureus gene, SAUSA300_1984, encoding a putative transmembrane protein. This as yet uncharacterized protein belongs to the Abi (abortive infection) family, which are commonly annotated as CAAX-proteases, and are significantly understudied in prokaryotes. In S. aureus the disruption of SAUSA300_1984 results in a drastic reduction of proteolytic and hemolytic activity, as well as diminished pigmentation. This phenotype appears to be mediated through …