@article {10.7554/eLife.66793,
article_type = {journal},
title = {Antimicrobials from a feline commensal bacterium inhibit skin infection by drug-resistant \textit{S. pseudintermedius}},
author = {O'Neill, Alan M and Worthing, Kate A and Kulkarni, Nikhil and Li, Fengwu and Nakatsuji, Teruaki and McGrosso, Dominic and Mills, Robert H and Kalla, Gayathri and Cheng, Joyce Y and Norris, Jacqueline M and Pogliano, Kit and Pogliano, Joe and Gonzalez, David J and Gallo, Richard L},
editor = {Helaine, Sophie and Lo, Y M Dennis and Edwards, Andrew M},
volume = 10,
year = 2021,
month = {oct},
pub_date = {2021-10-19},
pages = {e66793},
citation = {eLife 2021;10:e66793},
doi = {10.7554/eLife.66793},
url = {https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.66793},
abstract = {Methicillin-resistant \textit{Staphylococcus pseudintermedius} (MRSP) is an important emerging zoonotic pathogen that causes severe skin infections. To combat infections from drug-resistant bacteria, the transplantation of commensal antimicrobial bacteria as a therapeutic has shown clinical promise. We screened a collection of diverse staphylococcus species from domestic dogs and cats for antimicrobial activity against MRSP. A unique strain (\textit{S. felis} C4) was isolated from feline skin that inhibited MRSP and multiple gram-positive pathogens. Whole genome sequencing and mass spectrometry revealed several secreted antimicrobials including a thiopeptide bacteriocin micrococcin P1 and phenol-soluble modulin beta (PSMβ) peptides that exhibited antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. Fluorescence and electron microscopy revealed that \textit{S. felis} antimicrobials inhibited translation and disrupted bacterial but not eukaryotic cell membranes. Competition experiments in mice showed that \textit{S. felis} significantly reduced MRSP skin colonization and an antimicrobial extract from \textit{S. felis} significantly reduced necrotic skin injury from MRSP infection. These findings indicate a feline commensal bacterium that could be utilized in bacteriotherapy against difficult-to-treat animal and human skin infections.},
keywords = {\textit{staphylococcus felis}, \textit{Staphylococcus aureus}, \textit{staphylococcus pseudintermedius}, skin, infection, antimicrobial},
journal = {eLife},
issn = {2050-084X},
publisher = {eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd},
}