Stress-induced inactivation of the Staphylococcus aureus purine biosynthesis repressor leads to hypervirulence

Abstract

PurR acts as transcriptional repressor of purine biosynthesis genes in some bacterial species. Here, the authors show that purR mutations can arise in Staphylococcus aureus upon exposure to stress, leading to upregulation of fibronectin-binding proteins and increased virulence.