Metabolic Master Switch: Pyruvate Carboxylase Fuels Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence in Foodborne <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>
<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, a major cause of foodborne illness globally, presents significant challenges due to its multidrug resistance and biofilm-forming capabilities. Pyruvate carboxylase (PycA), a metabolic master switch linking glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, i...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Foods |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/15/2566 |
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| Summary: | <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, a major cause of foodborne illness globally, presents significant challenges due to its multidrug resistance and biofilm-forming capabilities. Pyruvate carboxylase (PycA), a metabolic master switch linking glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, is a potential target for controlling <i>S. aureus</i>. In this study, a <i>pycA</i> mutant was constructed and analyzed using phenotypic assays and proteomics to investigate its role in virulence and antimicrobial resistance. The results showed that deletion of <i>pycA</i> in the foodborne methicillin-resistant strain ATCC BAA1717 resulted in a 4- to 1024-fold reduction in resistance to β-lactams, aminoglycosides, and macrolides; a 23.24% impairment in biofilm formation; and a 22.32% decrease in staphyloxanthin production, a key antioxidant essential for survival in oxidative food environments. Proteomic analysis revealed downregulation of the TCA cycle, purine biosynthesis, surface adhesins (FnbA/B, SasG), and β-lactamase (BlaZ), linking PycA-mediated metabolism to phenotypes relevant to food safety. These findings underscore the importance of PycA as a metabolic regulator crucial for <i>S. aureus</i> resilience in food systems, suggesting novel strategies to combat foodborne staphylococcal infections through metabolic interference. |
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| ISSN: | 2304-8158 |