abstract
- BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has become significant due to its prevalence as one of the main causes of nosocomial infections, provoking both human and economic losses; therefore, a better understanding of its biology will allow the proposal of new strategies of control. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the metabolic profiles of two strains of Staphylococcus aureus under exposure to sub-inhibitory concentrations of oxacillin. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains were exposed to oxacillin at 0.125 mg/L; afterwards, tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze their metabolic profiles (12 amino acid [AA]s and 28 acylcarnitine [AcC]s). RESULTS: Exposure to oxacillin in both strains generated osmolytes such as proline and carnitine, in response to osmotic stress generated from the damage on the cellular wall. Moreover, they presented a capacity to modify their intra-cellular composition of both amino acids and AcCs in response to exposure to the drug. CONCLUSION: Exposure of MSSA and MRSA strains to oxacillin modifies their metabolome.