Affiliation:
1. University of Tübingen, Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Infection Biology Unit, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Staphylococcus aureus
is usually regarded as a bacterial pathogen due to its ability to cause multiple types of invasive infections. Nevertheless,
S. aureus
colonizes about 30% of the human population asymptomatically in the nares, either transiently or persistently, and can therefore be regarded a human commensal as well, although carriage increases the risk of infection. Whereas many facets of the infection processes have been studied intensively, little is known about the commensal lifestyle of
S. aureus
. Recent studies highlight the major role of the composition of the highly variable nasal microbiota in promoting or inhibiting
S. aureus
colonization. Competition for limited nutrients, trace elements, and epithelial attachment sites, different susceptibilities to host defense molecules and the production of antimicrobial molecules by bacterial competitors may determine whether nasal bacteria outcompete each other. This chapter summarizes our knowledge about mechanisms that are used by
S. aureus
for efficient nasal colonization and strategies used by other nasal bacteria to interfere with its colonization. An improved understanding of naturally evolved mechanisms might enable us to develop new strategies for pathogen eradication.
Publisher
American Society for Microbiology
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Cell Biology,Microbiology (medical),Genetics,General Immunology and Microbiology,Ecology,Physiology
Cited by
63 articles.
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