Phage susceptibility determinants of the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus epidermidis

• Published in: Current opinion in microbiology 2024-04, Vol.78, p.102434-102434, Article 102434
• Main Authors: Beck, Christian, Krusche, Janes, Elsherbini, Ahmed M.A., Du, Xin, Peschel, Andreas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: bacteriophages; cell walls; host range; microbiome; nose; opportunistic pathogens; skin (animal); Staphylococcus epidermidis; virulence; virus receptors
• ISSN: 1369-5274; 1879-0364
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102434

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a common member of the human skin and nose microbiomes and a frequent cause of invasive infections. Transducing phages accomplish the horizontal transfer of resistance and virulence genes by mispackaging of mobile-genetic elements, contributing to severe, therapy-refractory S. epidermidis infections. Lytic phages on the other hand can be interesting candidates for new anti-S. epidermidis phage therapies. Despite the importance of phages, we are only beginning to unravel S. epidermidis phage interactions. Recent studies shed new light on S. epidermidis phage diversity, host range, and receptor specificities. Modulation of cell wall teichoic acids, the major phage receptor structures, along with other phage defense mechanisms, are crucial determinants for S. epidermidis susceptibility to different phage groups. •Temperate phages of Staphylococcus epidermidis facilitate horizontal gene transfer.•Wall teichoic acid glycosylation determines binding of S. epidermidis phages.•The receptor-binding proteins of S. epidermidis cluster according to phage taxonomy. .•The ‘defensome’ of S. epidermidis influences infection processes of bacteriophages.