The Characterization of Fusidic Acid-selected fusA Mutants of faiR Deletion Mutants of Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

            This project analyzed a gene (faiR) in Staphylococcus aureus, which is thought to be a regulator within an efflux pump operon that had been previously found in the laboratory. The characterization focused primarily on fusidic acid resistance expression.  Initially fusidic acid–resistant mutants were selected from both a parent strain and a mutant missing faiR culture that had the gene of interest inactivated. The data suggests that faiR and perhaps the faiRAB operon, has no impact on fusidic acid resistance expression. Furthermore, screening for the effects of faiR deletion on susceptibility to other antibiotics demonstrated that this gene and possibly the faiRAB operon do not play a role in intrinsic antimicrobial resistance in S. aureus.