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Journal of Bacteriology, February 2007, p. 1025-1035, Vol. 189, No. 3
0021-9193/07/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/JB.01524-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Catalase (KatA) and Alkyl Hydroperoxide Reductase (AhpC) Have Compensatory Roles in Peroxide Stress Resistance and Are Required for Survival, Persistence, and Nasal Colonization in Staphylococcus aureus
Kate Cosgrove,1
Graham Coutts,1
Ing-Marie Jonsson,2
Andrej Tarkowski,2
John F. Kokai-Kun,3
James J. Mond,3 and
Simon J. Foster*
Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom,1
Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden,2
Biosynexus Incorporated, 9119 Gaither Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland 208773
Received 29 September 2006/
Accepted 8 November 2006
Oxidative-stress resistance in Staphylococcus aureus is linked to metal ion homeostasis via several interacting regulators. In particular, PerR controls the expression of a regulon of genes, many of which encode antioxidants. Two PerR regulon members, ahpC (alkylhydroperoxide reductase) and katA (catalase), show compensatory regulation, with independent and linked functions. An ahpC mutation leads to increased H2O2 resistance due to greater katA expression via relief of PerR repression. Moreover, AhpC provides residual catalase activity present in a katA mutant. Mutation of both katA and ahpC leads to a severe growth defect under aerobic conditions in defined media (attributable to lack of catalase activity). This results in the inability to scavenge exogenous or endogenously produced H2O2, resulting in accumulation of H2O2 in the medium. This leads to DNA damage, the likely cause of the growth defect. Surprisingly, the katA ahpC mutant is not attenuated in two independent models of infection, which implies reduced oxygen availability during infection. In contrast, both AhpC and KatA are required for environmental persistence (desiccation) and nasal colonization. Thus, oxidative-stress resistance is an important factor in the ability of S. aureus to persist in the hospital environment and so contribute to the spread of human disease.
* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom. Phone: (44) 0114 222 4411. Fax: (44) 0114 222 2800. E-mail:
S.foster{at}sheffield.ac.uk.
Published ahead of print on 17 November 2006.
Journal of Bacteriology, February 2007, p. 1025-1035, Vol. 189, No. 3
0021-9193/07/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/JB.01524-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
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