Interaction of Staphylococcus aureus and humans: Iron regulated surface proteins and a novel host defence mechanism

金黄色葡萄球菌是一种重要的人类病原体，特别是在每年导致许多人死亡的医院。抗生素耐药性的传播使这个问题变得更加复杂，我们最了解的生物体是耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA)。我们已经确定了一些金黄色葡萄球菌成分，这些成分正在作为疫苗开发，以防止疾病和细菌的传播。我们还发现，这些细菌蛋白中的一种可以保护它免受人类为保护自己而产生的许多机制的影响。在这样做的过程中，我们发现了一种新的方法，人类能够关闭金黄色葡萄球菌产生的毒素。我们将了解这一机制是如何工作的，以及该漏洞是如何在这场战斗中自卫的。这项研究将定义昆虫和我们是如何进化来相互作用的，并提供新的潜在途径，使结果对我们有利。

Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen, particularly in hospitals where it kills many people each year. The problem is compounded by the spread of antibiotic resistance and we know the organism best as MRSA (methiciliin resistant S. aureus). We have identified a number of S. aureus components that are being developed as a vaccine to prevent disease and spread of the bug. We have also found that one of these bug proteins protects it against a number of the mechanisms we humans make to defend ourselves. In doing so we have found a new way in which humans are able to turn off the toxins made by S. aureus. We will find out how this mechanism works and how the bug is able to defend itself in this battle. The research will define how the bugs and we have evolved to interact with each other and give novel potential avenues to sway the outcome in our favour.