Metabolomic and proteomic responses of Staphylococcus aureus to prolonged cold stress.

Abstract

Work in our laboratory has shown that prolonged exposure of S. aureus to cold stress can result in the formation of small colony variants (SCVs) associated with significant alterations in the cell wall composition. Further studies revealed that S. aureus altered cell size and cell wall thickness in response to exposure to cold temperatures, alterations in pH and exposure to antibiotics. The current study has utilised the prolonged exposure to cold stress as a model system to explore changes in the proteome and associated metabolic homeostasis following environmental challenges. The study provides an improved understanding of how S. aureus adapts to the changing environment whilst in transition between human hosts. The results indicated an unexpected production of 9 ribosomal proteins and citric acid in response to cold stress suggesting specific survival roles for these proteins and citric acid as an adaptation mechanism for empowering survival under these conditions.