Role of the SasAB locus in S. aureus Biofilms

描述（由申请人提供）：生物膜是附着在表面的细菌群落，代表了大多数细菌存在的生理状态。生物膜中的细菌行为与悬浮在培养基中的细菌细胞（浮游细胞）不同。值得注意的是，生物膜中的细胞对抗生素和其他杀菌剂的抵抗力要大得多。生物膜深刻地影响着人类。生物膜和疾病之间有许多联系；据估计，超过一半的人类细菌感染与生物膜有关。在组织、植入物和医用导管上生长的生物膜可能非常成问题，而且极难治疗。金黄色葡萄球菌是医院感染的主要病原体，能够在生物和非生物表面形成坚固的生物膜。然而，我们只知道有限数量的因素，有助于金黄色葡萄球菌生物膜的形成。确定的因素可能成为重要的疫苗和药物靶标。因此，阐明金黄色葡萄球菌生物膜形成的遗传因素具有重要意义。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Biofilms are communities of bacteria that adhere to surfaces, and represent the physiological state in which most bacteria exist. Bacteria in biofilms behave differently than do bacterial cells suspended in culture medium (planktonic cells). Notably cells in biofilms are much more resistant to antibiotics and other biocides. Biofilms profoundly affect mankind. There are many links between biofilms and disease; it is estimated that more than half of all human bacterial infections involve biofilms. Biofilms growing on tissue, implants and medical tubing can be highly problematic and extremely difficult to treat. Staphylococcus aureus is major agent of nosocomial infections and capable of forming robust biofilms on biotic and abiotic surfaces. Yet, we know only a limited number of factors that contribute to S. aureus biofilm formation. Identified factors may become important vaccine and drug targets. Therefore, it will be important to elucidate the genetic factors involved in S. aureus biofilm formation. This proposal describes biochemical and genetic experiments designed to characterize novel factors that contribute to S. aureus biofilm formation.