RNA-seq transcriptome of Staphylococcus aureus MRSA at mid-exponential phase

Staphylococcus aureus is a known commensal of the human skin microbiome, but it is increasingly recognised as a human pathogen. Specifically, the transformation of this commensal bacterium into a pathogenic species remains enigmatic. More importantly, increasing prevalence of a methicillin resistant strain of S. aureus points to a major clinical need to understand the fundamental biology and pathogenesis mechanisms of this important human pathogen. To this end, this contribution hopes to illuminate the RNA-seq transcriptome of S. aureus MRSA BD02-25 (ArrayExpress accession number: E-GEOD-67344) through processing 0.5 million reads via an in-house MATLAB RNA-seq analysis software. The most highly expressed genes were: clumping factor, formate acetyltransferase, alkaline shock protein 23, pyruvate formate-lyase 1 activating enzyme, transcriptional regulator Spx, anaerobic ribonucleoside triphosphate reductase, DNA-binding protein HU, and ATP-dependent Clp protease ATP-binding subunit. Drugs or antibiotics targeting S. aureus MRSA should ideally identify molecules unique to the bacterium’s physiology. These molecules need not be highly expressed proteins or enzymes, but should play a critical role in S. aureus MRSA physiology and metabolism. Hence, deeper analysis of the presented RNA-seq transcriptome of S. aureus MRSA by the scientific community might offer clues to new molecular targets suitable for drug development, or helping gain additional insights of the pathophysiological process of this important human pathogen.