Molecular Pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus Infection

S. aureus has evolved a comprehensive strategy to address the challenges posed by the human immune system. The emergence of community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) infections in individuals with no predisposing conditions suggests an increased pathogenicity of the bacterium, which may be related to acquisition of novel genetic elements. Remarkably, despite an abundance of research, the underlying cause of the epidemic is not known, Here, the various strategies used by S. aureus to evade obstacles laid out by the human host during colonization and infection were reviewed. The controversies surrounding MRSA research were described, and how acquisition of the novel genes could explain the increased incidence and severity of CA-MRSA diseases was described. (Pediatr Res 65: 71R-77R, 2009)