2023年1月26日， Allison Lopatkin, assistant professor of biological sciences, published new research in Applied 和 Environmental Microbiology, alongside colleagues, titled “Disturbing the Spatial Organization of Biofilm Communities Affects Expression of agr-Regulated Virulence Factors in Staphylococcus aureus.” The research examines how, 在自然环境中, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria encounter forces that may alter their spatial structure, which can affect quorum sensing, 营养收购, 的表达式 agr-regulated virulence factors. The researchers used physical force to periodically disturb biofilms composed of Staphylococcus aureus to demonstrate these effects.
The study revealed that disturbances in nutrient-poor environments increased the expression of 我看, fnbpA, 陆, 解放军, disturbances in a nutrient-rich environment at low or high disturbance amplitudes moderately reduced expression of 我看 和 fnbpA but increased expression of 陆 和 解放军. At an intermediate amplitude, however, the overall expression of agr-regulated virulence factors was the lowest; expression of 陆 和 解放军 remained unchanged relative to an undisturbed biofilm, while expression of 我看 和 fnbpA 显著降低. The researchers also discuss how the study’s findings may allow the identification of environments that increase or reduce the expression of virulence factors in Staphylococcus aureus.