Staphylococcus aureus—both Methicillin-Resistant (MRSA) and Methicillin-Sensitive (MSSA) strains cause a wide range of human diseases from staphylococcal skin and soft tissue infections (SA-SSTI) to life-threatening pneumonia, septic arthritis, and invasive diseases such as bacteremia, surgical site infections, biofilm infection on prosthetic devices, sepsis, and toxic shock syndrome. S. aureus has a remarkable variety of virulence factors mediating its multi-faceted interactions with the host including attachment proteins involved in initiation of infection and colonization, lipoproteins with a variety of regulatory functions including immune evasion, staphylococcal protein A, and a variety of toxins involved in barrier dysfunction, immune evasion, and immune subversions.
IBT Bioservices has the largest collection of essential reagents for Staphylococcal research. Our highly characterized reagents include several key functional groups of virulence factors:
Reagents offered include purified toxins and detection monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies for single component alpha-hemolysin (alpha toxin or Hla), bicomponent leukocidins LukAB, Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) and LukED, as well as gamma hemolysins HlgAB and HlgCB. These toxins kill immune cells involved in innate and adaptive immune response to S. aureus. The targets include neutrophiles, macrophages, and T lymphocytes. In addition, the toxins lyse lung epithelial cells and keratinocytes leading to dissemination of bacteria. The hemolysins also lyse the red blood cells to extract iron which is essential for bacterial growth.
These toxins cause cytokine storm by bypassing the natural peptide-mediated T cell receptor (TCR) interaction with MHC class II on antigen presenting cells leading to massive and polyclonal T cell activation followed by cytokine storm and eventually toxic shock. These toxins include a large range of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEA, SEB, SEC, etc.) as well as toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1). Enterotoxins also mediate staphylococcal food poisoning. IBT Bioservices has a portfolio of purified proteins as well as monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies for the enterotoxins and TSST-1.
Staphylococcal secretion systems export various effector proteins, including toxins, that are critical to bacterial survival and pathogenesis. IBT Bioservices offers purified Esx A and B proteins, components of the ESAT-6 secretion system of S. aureus.
Staphylococcal capsular polysaccharides and non-capsular polysaccharides are among the most important virulence factors of S. aureus. Capsular polysaccharides primarily function by preventing phagocytosis, the process by which immune cells engulf and destroy bacteria, thus allowing the bacteria to persist in the host. Wall teichoic acids (WTAs) are crucial components of the cell wall of S. aureus. IBT Bioservices offers highly purified and characterized capsular polysaccharides type 5 and 8 (CP5 and CP8) as well as wall teichoic acid.
Staphylococcal lipoproteins are key virulence factors and serve as anchors in the staphylococcal cell membrane, playing key roles in nutrient acquisition, protein maturation, and immune evasion. IBT Bioservices offers highly purified lipoproteins such as Csa-1 and FhuD proteins.
Other proteins offered by IBT Bioservices include the attachment protein Clumping A (ClfA) and Iron-regulated protein IsdB, both being key virulence factors of S. aureus.
Our extensive expertise in S. aureus reagents is a cornerstone of our work. While we offer a comprehensive catalog of reagents, including a wide range of proteins and antibodies, we understand that specific research needs vary. If you don’t find the exact product you’re looking for, please contact us about our custom protein or antibody production services.
Beyond reagents, our services extend to a variety of in vitro assays, such as whole-cell ELISA, toxin neutralization assays in lymphocytes, and RBC lysis assays, as well as MIC/MBC assays. We also specialize in a full spectrum of in vivo infection models, covering wound infection, recurring skin tissue infection, pneumonia, bacteremia, and sepsis. Let us be your partner in advancing S. aureus research.
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Multicolor Flow Cytometry Panel Development
Flow cytometry allows researchers to test sophisticated biological hypotheses using flow cytometry. With multicolor flow cytometry single cells can be probed with multiple markers and protein…
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Multicolor Flow Cytometry Panel Development
Flow cytometry allows researchers to test sophisticated biological hypotheses using flow cytometry. With multicolor flow cytometry single cells can be probed with multiple markers and protein…
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