Interactions between coagulase-negative staphylococci and the host

哺乳动物是被称为微生物群的无数细菌的宿主。这些细菌中的大多数与我们生活在一种共生关系中，为我们提供健康，并抵抗我们可能遇到的致病细菌。我实验室的研究重点是一组被称为葡萄球菌的细菌，这是一组由大约50种细菌组成的细菌。这些物种中的大多数是共生的，不会造成伤害，而少数确实具有较高的致病潜力。其中最臭名昭著的是金黄色葡萄球菌，它可以在人类和动物中引起几种感染和疾病。我们的研究集中在理解葡萄球菌成员与宿主相互作用的机制，使它们能够在通常不适合微生物生存的皮肤和粘膜表面存活和茁壮成长。我们研究这些细菌如何感知和适应它们的环境。这些信号包括限制营养物质、宿主抗菌剂（如脂肪酸和多肽）和竞争微生物。在哺乳动物（宿主）的皮肤或粘膜上定植的细菌必须在生理上具备长时间在这种恶劣环境中生存的能力。它们还必须对宿主免疫系统具有抵抗力或耐受性。葡萄球菌的一种，S. lugdunensis，是一种著名的共生细菌。它生活在鼻子里，可以产生杀死金黄色葡萄球菌的抗生素。因此，在某些圈子里，这种细菌被认为是一种益生菌，它的用途受到质疑。然而，它作为益生菌的使用是禁忌的，因为它的毒性潜在，因为它可以引起感染，有时甚至严重。我们的研究计划旨在确定该物种的定义特征，以区分其致病潜力。本研究项目有三个目的：目的1：确定lugdunensis在血液和免疫细胞中存活的分子机制。目的2：明确lugdunensis破坏红细胞和免疫细胞的分子机制。目标3：明确S. lugdunensis粘附在宿主细胞或组织上的分子机制，以及它如何释放自己，从而扩散到宿主的其他区域。这个以发现为基础的研究计划将解决关于共生的关键特征的重要和独特的问题，但机会性病原体，S. lugdunensis。这项研究将为我们了解这种尚未充分研究的细菌提供有意义和有影响力的贡献。在此过程中，该研究项目将培养许多下一代HQP成为独立的思考者、学习者和未来的领导者。这项研究，以及HQP由此得到的培训，将给加拿大人带来广泛的好处。这项研究旨在设计和开发更好的策略来阻止耐抗生素细菌的传播。

Mammals are hosts to myriad number of bacteria called the microbiome. Most of these bacteria live in a commensal relationship with us, providing us health, and resistance to pathogenic, or disease-causing, bacteria that we may encounter. My laboratory's research has focused on a group of bacteria known as the staphylococci, which are a group of bacteria made up of approximately 50 species. Most of these species are commensal and do not cause harm, while a handful do have elevated pathogenic potential. The most notorious among these is Staphylococcus aureus which can cause several types of infection and diseases in humans and animals. Our research is centred around understanding the mechanisms by which members of the staphylococci interact with their host, allowing them to survive and thrive on skin and mucosal surfaces which are normally inhospitable to microbes. We examine how these bacteria sense and adapt to their surroundings. These signals include limiting nutrients, host antimicrobials (e.g. fatty acids and peptides), and competing microorganisms. Bacteria that colonize the skin or mucosal membranes of mammals (the host) must be physiologically equipped to survive this inhospitable environment for extended periods. They must also be resistant or tolerant to the host immune system. One of the species of staphylococci, S. lugdunensis, is a noted commensal bacterium. It lives in the nose and can produce an antibiotic that kills S. aureus. Thus, in some circles, this bacterium has been regarded as a probiotic and its use as such has been interrogated. However, its use as a probiotic is contraindicated because of its virulence potential as it can cause infections and sometimes serious. Our research program seeks to identify defining features in this species that distinguish its pathogenic potential. This research program has three aims: Aim1: Define the molecular mechanisms by which S. lugdunensis survives in blood and in immune cells. Aim2: Define the molecular mechanisms by which S. lugdunensis destroys red blood cells and immune cells. Aim3: Define the molecular mechanisms by which S. lugdunensis sticks to host cells or tissues, and how it releases itself so that it may spread to other areas within the host. This discovery-based research program will address important and unique questions concerning key traits of the commensal, yet opportunistic pathogen, S. lugdunensis. The research will provide meaningful and impactful contributions to our understanding of this much understudied bacterium. Along the way, the research program will train many next-generation HQP to become independent thinkers, learners and future leaders. The research, and the HQP thus trained, will have wide-ranging benefits to Canadians. The research is positioned to design and develop better strategies to thwart the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.