Cross-species communication via agr controls phage susceptibility in Staphylococcus aureus
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Bacteria use quorum sensing (QS) to coordinate group behavior in response to cell density, and some bacterial viruses (phages) also respond to QS. In Staphylococcus aureus, the agr-encoded QS system relies on accumulation of auto-inducing cyclic peptides (AIPs). Other staphylococci also produce AIPs of which many inhibit S. aureus agr. We show that agr induction reduces expression of tarM, encoding a glycosyltransferase responsible for α-N-acetylglucosamine modification of the major S. aureus phage receptor, the wall teichoic acids. This allows lytic phage Stab20 and related phages to infect and kill S. aureus. However, in mixed communities, producers of inhibitory AIPs like S. haemolyticus, S. caprae, and S. pseudintermedius inhibit S. aureus agr, thereby impeding phage infection. Our results demonstrate that cross-species interactions dramatically impact phage susceptibility. These interactions likely influence microbial ecology and impact the efficacy of phages in medical and biotechnological applications such as phage therapy.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 113154 |
Journal | Cell Reports |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 9 |
ISSN | 2211-1247 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors
- agr, CP: Microbiology, glycosylation, phage, Stab20, tarM, tarS, WTA
Research areas
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