Josh Sun, Satoshi Uchiyama, Joshua Olson, Yosuke Morodomi, Ingrid Cornax, Nao Ando, Yohei Kohno, May M T Kyaw, Bernice Aguilar, Nina M Haste, Sachiko Kanaji, Taisuke Kanaji, Warren E Rose, George Sakoulas, Jamey D Marth, Victor Nizet
Staphylococcus aureus (SA) bloodstream infections cause high morbidity and mortality (20 to 30%) despite modern supportive care. In a human bacteremia cohort, we found that development of thrombocytopenia was correlated to increased mortality and increased α-toxin expression by the pathogen. Platelet-derived antibacterial peptides are important in bloodstream defense against SA, but α-toxin decreased platelet viability, induced platelet sialidase to cause desialylation of platelet glycoproteins, and accelerated platelet clearance by the hepatic Ashwell-Morell receptor (AMR)...
March 24, 2021: Science Translational Medicine