Analysis of Extracellular Proteome of Staphylococcus aureus: A Mass Spectrometry based Proteomics Method of Exotoxin Characterisation

Background: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), an important pathogen, causes a wide range of infections in human starting from food poisoning to septicemia. It affects the host cells with various exotoxins, known as virulence factors, which are synthesized in growth phase-dependent manner of the bacteria. S. aureus has been reported to become resistant to antibiotics rapidly. Among two common clinical isolates, Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), MRSA pose major problems across hospitals around the world. Objective: The objective of the present study was to profile the exoproteins of Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (ATCC 25293) and subsequently to establish a proteomics-based method of characterization of S. aureus that is crucial in treating hospital-acquired infections. Methods: We used two-dimensional nanoLC/ESI-MS based proteomic platform to characterize and quantify the exoproteins isolated from Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (ATCC 25293) strain. Results: A total of 69 proteins were identified from extracellular proteome pool of ATCC 25293 strain that includes 18 extracellular proteins, 40 cytoplasmic proteins, 2 membrane proteins, 3 cell wall proteins and 6 uncharacterized proteins. Conclusion: We propose that this mass spectrometry-based proteomics method of characterization of exoproteins might be useful to identify S. aureus strains that are resistant to antibiotics.