Staphylococcus aureus infections have been a growing concern in the medical community. Some strains of S. aureus are becoming resistant to treatment resulting in fatalities. Thus, it is imperative that we identify the mechanisms utilized by S. aureus to induce host damage. In this study, we have identified, cloned,  and expressed a putative Gcp protease of S. aureus. We hypothesize  that GcpMB may be associated with virulence of S. aureus. Purified rGcpMB  was incubated with homogenized Fisher 344 rat cardiac, gingival and brain tissues. In addition, rGcpMB was incubated with collagen, elastin and asioalofetuin. rGcpMB is shown to selectively degrade  host gingival epithelium and cardiac tissues. rGcpMB also degrades/cleaves collagen. Asialofetuin and brain tissue samples were not degraded or cleaved by rGcpMB. In conclusion, data from our lab suggests that this putative protease may be associated with virulence of the organism by selectively degrading host proteins.

Staphylococcus aureus putative GcpMB protease can cleave specific host tissues and proteins

245th National Meeting (2013)

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