BackgroundAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition whose pathogenesis involves genetic predisposition, epidermal barrier dysfunction, alterations in the immune responses and microbial dysbiosis. Clinical studies have shown a link between Staphylococcus aureus and the pathogenesis of AD, although the origins and genetic diversity of S. aureus colonizing patients with AD is poorly understood. The aim of the study was to investigate if specific clones might be associated with the disease. MethodsWGS analyses were performed on 38 S. aureus strains, deriving from AD patients and healthy carriers. Genotypes (i.e. MLST, spa-, agr- and SCCmec-typing), genomic content (e.g. virulome and resistome), and the pan-genome structure of strains have been investigated. Phenotypic analyses were performed to determine the antibiotic susceptibility, the biofilm production and the invasiveness within the investigated S. aureus population. ResultsStrains isolated from AD patients revealed a high degree of genetic heterogeneity and a shared set of virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance genes, suggesting that no genotype and genomic content are uniquely associated with AD. The same strains were characterized by a lower variability in terms of gene content, indicating that the inflammatory conditions could exert a selective pressure leading to the optimization of the gene repertoire. Furthermore, genes related to specific mechanisms, like post-translational modification, protein turnover and chaperones as well as intracellular trafficking, secretion and vesicular transport, were significantly more enriched in AD strains. Phenotypic analysis revealed that all of our AD strains were strong or moderate biofilm producers, while less than half showed invasive capabilities. ConclusionsWe conclude that in AD skin, the functional role played by S. aureus may depend on differential gene expression patterns and/or on post-translational modification mechanisms rather than being associated with peculiar genetic features.

Atopic dermatitis-derived Staphylococcus aureus strains: what makes them special in the interplay with the host / Conte, Antonietta Lucia; Brunetti, Francesca; Marazzato, Massimiliano; Longhi, Catia; Maurizi, Linda; Raponi, Giammarco; Palamara, Anna Teresa; Grassi, Sara; Conte, Maria Pia. - In: FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY. - ISSN 2235-2988. - 13:(2023), pp. 1-16. [10.3389/fcimb.2023.1194254]

Atopic dermatitis-derived Staphylococcus aureus strains: what makes them special in the interplay with the host

Conte, Antonietta Lucia
Methodology
;
Brunetti, Francesca
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;
Marazzato, Massimiliano
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Longhi, Catia
Data Curation
;
Maurizi, Linda
Investigation
;
Raponi, Giammarco
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Palamara, Anna Teresa
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Grassi, Sara
Resources
;
Conte, Maria Pia
Supervision
2023

Abstract

BackgroundAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition whose pathogenesis involves genetic predisposition, epidermal barrier dysfunction, alterations in the immune responses and microbial dysbiosis. Clinical studies have shown a link between Staphylococcus aureus and the pathogenesis of AD, although the origins and genetic diversity of S. aureus colonizing patients with AD is poorly understood. The aim of the study was to investigate if specific clones might be associated with the disease. MethodsWGS analyses were performed on 38 S. aureus strains, deriving from AD patients and healthy carriers. Genotypes (i.e. MLST, spa-, agr- and SCCmec-typing), genomic content (e.g. virulome and resistome), and the pan-genome structure of strains have been investigated. Phenotypic analyses were performed to determine the antibiotic susceptibility, the biofilm production and the invasiveness within the investigated S. aureus population. ResultsStrains isolated from AD patients revealed a high degree of genetic heterogeneity and a shared set of virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance genes, suggesting that no genotype and genomic content are uniquely associated with AD. The same strains were characterized by a lower variability in terms of gene content, indicating that the inflammatory conditions could exert a selective pressure leading to the optimization of the gene repertoire. Furthermore, genes related to specific mechanisms, like post-translational modification, protein turnover and chaperones as well as intracellular trafficking, secretion and vesicular transport, were significantly more enriched in AD strains. Phenotypic analysis revealed that all of our AD strains were strong or moderate biofilm producers, while less than half showed invasive capabilities. ConclusionsWe conclude that in AD skin, the functional role played by S. aureus may depend on differential gene expression patterns and/or on post-translational modification mechanisms rather than being associated with peculiar genetic features.
2023
staphylococcus aureus; antibiotic resistance; atopic dermatitis; biofilm; in silico genotype; pan-genome; whole-genome sequencing
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Atopic dermatitis-derived Staphylococcus aureus strains: what makes them special in the interplay with the host / Conte, Antonietta Lucia; Brunetti, Francesca; Marazzato, Massimiliano; Longhi, Catia; Maurizi, Linda; Raponi, Giammarco; Palamara, Anna Teresa; Grassi, Sara; Conte, Maria Pia. - In: FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY. - ISSN 2235-2988. - 13:(2023), pp. 1-16. [10.3389/fcimb.2023.1194254]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1687914
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