Phage susceptibility determinants of the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus epidermidis

Curr Opin Microbiol. 2024 Feb 15;78:102434. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102434. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTStaphylococcus epidermidis is a common member of the human skin and nose microbiomes and a frequent cause of invasive infections. Transducing phages accomplish the horizontal transfer of resistance and virulence genes by mispackaging of mobile-genetic elements, contributing to severe, therapy-refractory S. epidermidis infections. Lytic phages on the other hand can be interesting candidates for new anti-S. epidermidis phage therapies. Despite the importance of phages, we are only beginning to unravel S. epidermidis phage interactions. Recent studies shed new light on S. epidermidis phage diversity, host range, and receptor specificities. Modulation of cell wall teichoic acids, the major phage receptor structures, along with other phage defense mechanisms, are crucial determinants for S. epidermidis susceptibility to different phage groups.PMID:38364502 | DOI:10.1016/j.mib.2024.102434

Source: Current Opinion in Microbiology - February 16, 2024 Category: Microbiology Authors: Christian Beck Janes Krusche Ahmed M A Elsherbini Xin Du Andreas Peschel Source Type: research