Androgens at the Skin Surface Regulate S. Aureus Pathogenesis Through the Activation of Agr Quorum Sensing

    February 2024 in “ bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) ”
    Maria Sindhura John, Mahendran Chinnappan, Methinee Artami, Mohini Bhattacharya, Rebecca A. Keogh, J.S. Kavanaugh, Tripti Sharma, Alexander R. Horswill, Tamia Harris-Tryon
    TLDR Androgens like testosterone make Staphylococcus aureus skin infections more common in men.
    The study investigates the role of androgens, specifically testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, in promoting Staphylococcus aureus pathogenesis and skin infections, which are more prevalent in men. The research reveals that these hormones activate S. aureus virulence through the agr quorum sensing system, enhancing the bacteria's ability to cause infection despite environmental inhibitory signals. This discovery highlights a novel inter-kingdom signaling mechanism between human skin and S. aureus, explaining the sex-dependent differences in infection rates. The findings suggest that the presence of androgens is crucial for the severity of S. aureus skin infections.
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