This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Caiazza, N. C. Articles by O'Toole, G. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Caiazza, N. C. Articles by O'Toole, G. A.

Alpha-Toxin Is Required for Biofilm Formation by Staphylococcus aureus

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire

Received 9 May 2002/ Accepted 24 February 2003

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.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Shanks, R. M. Q., Meehl, M. A., Brothers, K. M., Martinez, R. M., Donegan, N. P., Graber, M. L., Cheung, A. L., O'Toole, G. A. (2008). Genetic Evidence for an Alternative Citrate-Dependent Biofilm Formation Pathway in Staphylococcus aureus That Is Dependent on Fibronectin Binding Proteins and the GraRS Two-Component Regulatory System. Infect. Immun. 76: 2469-2477 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Seidl, K., Goerke, C., Wolz, C., Mack, D., Berger-Bachi, B., Bischoff, M. (2008). Staphylococcus aureus CcpA Affects Biofilm Formation. Infect. Immun. 76: 2044-2050 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Goldsworthy, M. J. H. (2008). Gene expression of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and MRSA within a catheter-associated urinary tract infection biofilm model. Bioscience Horizons 1: 28-37 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Oscarsson, J., Kanth, A., Tegmark-Wisell, K., Arvidson, S. (2006). SarA Is a Repressor of hla ({alpha}-Hemolysin) Transcription in Staphylococcus aureus: Its Apparent Role as an Activator of hla in the Prototype Strain NCTC 8325 Depends on Reduced Expression of sarS. J. Bacteriol. 188: 8526-8533 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Cassat, J., Dunman, P. M., Murphy, E., Projan, S. J., Beenken, K. E., Palm, K. J., Yang, S.-J., Rice, K. C., Bayles, K. W., Smeltzer, M. S. (2006). Transcriptional profiling of a Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolate and its isogenic agr and sarA mutants reveals global differences in comparison to the laboratory strain RN6390.. Microbiology 152: 3075-3090 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Shanks, R. M. Q., Donegan, N. P., Graber, M. L., Buckingham, S. E., Zegans, M. E., Cheung, A. L., O'Toole, G. A. (2005). Heparin Stimulates Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation. Infect. Immun. 73: 4596-4606 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Tormo, M. A., Knecht, E., Gotz, F., Lasa, I., Penades, J. R. (2005). Bap-dependent biofilm formation by pathogenic species of Staphylococcus: evidence of horizontal gene transfer?. Microbiology 151: 2465-2475 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Shaw, L. N., Golonka, E., Szmyd, G., Foster, S. J., Travis, J., Potempa, J. (2005). Cytoplasmic Control of Premature Activation of a Secreted Protease Zymogen: Deletion of Staphostatin B (SspC) in Staphylococcus aureus 8325-4 Yields a Profound Pleiotropic Phenotype. J. Bacteriol. 187: 1751-1762 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• LaPlante, K. L., Rybak, M. J. (2004). Impact of High-Inoculum Staphylococcus aureus on the Activities of Nafcillin, Vancomycin, Linezolid, and Daptomycin, Alone and in Combination with Gentamicin, in an In Vitro Pharmacodynamic Model. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 48: 4665-4672 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hancock, L. E., Perego, M. (2004). The Enterococcus faecalis fsr Two-Component System Controls Biofilm Development through Production of Gelatinase. J. Bacteriol. 186: 5629-5639 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Yarwood, J. M., Bartels, D. J., Volper, E. M., Greenberg, E. P. (2004). Quorum Sensing in Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms. J. Bacteriol. 186: 1838-1850 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Lim, Y., Jana, M., Luong, T. T., Lee, C. Y. (2004). Control of Glucose- and NaCl-Induced Biofilm Formation by rbf in Staphylococcus aureus. J. Bacteriol. 186: 722-729 [Abstract] [Full Text]