TRAP plays a role in stress response in Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococci are common pathogens of implant-related infections. RIP is a heptapeptide (YSPWTNF-(NH2)) that was shown to be very effective in preventing and treating antibiotic-resistant staphylococcal infections, in healing polymicrobial wounds, and in enhancing the effect of commonly used antibiotics. How the peptide negatively affects the survival of the bacteria in the host is not yet known. In staphylococci, RIP was shown to suppress toxin production by inhibiting the expression of agr and production of RNAI. RIP was also shown to suppress the phosphorylation of TRAP (target of RNAIII-activating peptide), whose function was not clear. Here we show that mutant S. aureus TRAP-cells were more sensitive to oxidative stress and had higher rates of spontaneous and adaptive (agr) mutations. Furthermore, recombinant TRAP protected DNA from oxidative damage caused by hydroxyl radicals. Put together, these results suggest that TRAP is involved in DNA protection from stress. RIP may thus suppress pathogenesis through multiple independent molecular mechanisms involving both suppression of virulence and suppression of stress response. (Int J Artif Organs 2009; 32: 592-9)