Identification of staphylococcal exoproteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the major human infectious bacteria causing community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections. These infections range from cutaneous infections, such as furuncles, to potentially fatal diseases, e.g. toxic shock syndrome. Staphylococcus aureus produces a wide variety of exoproteins that contribute to its ability to colonize and cause disease in mammalian hosts, and is highly efficient against antibiotic treatment. Nearly all strains secrete a group of enzymes (hemolysins, nucleases, proteases, lipases) and various staphylococcal enterotoxins. Whole genome sequencing of two Staphylococcus aureus strains has been published in 2001, however, it is still little known about the expression of the various exoproteins.