The Small RNA Teg41 Is a Pleiotropic Regulator of Virulence in Staphylococcus aureus [teg41 psm]

Staphylococcus aureus is Gram-positive commensal bacteria that can also cause human disease ranging from mild, self-resolving skin infections to life-threatening conditions like endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and septicemia. Previously we demonstrated a role for the S. aureus sRNA, Teg41 in regulating production of the alpha Phenol Soluble Modulin toxins (αPSMs). In this study, we further characterize the regulatory role of Teg41. RNAseq analysis shows Teg41 influences the abundance of not just the αPSM transcript, but a variety of other transcripts as well compared to wild type S. aureus. Proteomic analysis confirms that eliminating Teg41 from the cell influences both the cytoplasmic and secreted protein profile of S. aureus. Finally, we observe that the Teg41Δ3′ strain is more severely attenuated in two murine infection models than a ∆αPSM strain, indicating that Teg41 regulation reaches beyond the αPSMs. Overall, we show that Teg41 is a unique pleiotropic sRNA in S. aureus that influences several key cellular processes. 6 datasets in total. Two strains (Teg41D3' strain and Dpsm mutant) with three replicates for each strain.