Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus transcriptional response to sunlight in oxic and anoxic conditions. Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus str. Newman

This study investigates the transcriptional response of Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus strain Newman to sunlight exposure under both oxic and anoxic conditions. The goal was to identify important features of the S. aureus photostress response in oligotrophic seawater. S. aureus is a bacterial pathogen commonly detected in marine recreational waters, and its response to sunlight exposure is therefore of interest for improving our ability to model and predict the fates of bacterial pathogens in seawater. In particular, the photostress response in both oxic and anoxic conditions allows for differentiation between oxygen-mediated and non-oxygen-mediated photoinactivation mechanisms.