The metallophore staphylopine enables staphylococcus aureus to compete with the host for zinc and overcome nutritional immunity

Abstract

During infection, the host sequesters essential nutrients, such as zinc, to combat invading microbes. Despite the ability of the immune effector protein calprotectin to bind zinc with subpicomolar affinity, Staphylococcus aureus is able to successfully compete with the host for zinc. However, the zinc importers expressed by S. aureus remain unknown. Our investigations have revealed that S. aureus possesses two importers, AdcABC and CntABCDF, which are induced in response to zinc limitation. While AdcABC is similar to known zinc importers in other bacteria, CntAB-CDF has not previously been associated with zinc acquisition. Concurrent loss of the two systems severely impairs the ability of S...