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 reveals that androgens, specifically testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, enhance the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus by activating the agr quorum sensing system, which is crucial for the bacterium's virulence. This activation is concentration-dependent and can override other environmental inhibitory signals, explaining why S. aureus skin infections are more prevalent in men. The findings highlight a novel inter-kingdom signaling mechanism between human skin and S. aureus, shedding light on the sex-dependent differences in susceptibility to these infections.
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