Identification and Characterization of RNA thermometers controlling the production of virulence associated proteins in a selected pathogenic bacterium

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive bacteria causes many community acquired and nosocomial infections in humans. This bacterium is a commensal organism (part of the normal microflora), but it can also infect the body at various sites. Depending on the site and /or stage of the infection, S. aureus experiences distinct environmental temperatures, a cue that in other pathogenic bacterial species influences the expression of virulence-associated genes. One mechanism by which bacterial regulate gene expression in response to environmental temperature is the activity of RNA thermometers (RNATs), a cis-acting regulatory elements located in the 5′ untranslated region (5’-UTR) of a regulated gene. The present study aims to explore the RNATs within S. aureus USA300 TCH1516 (community associated USA300 MRSA isolate). In silico-based studies and mfold analysis have identified ten RNATs and predicted the secondary structure, respectively.