Pathogenesis of s. Aureus thymidine-dependent small-colony variants

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded $533,850 to the University of Texas at Arlington on April 1, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to support research into the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus thymidine-dependent small-colony variants in cystic fibrosis patients.

The research characterizes how thymidine-dependent small-colony variants, which frequently colonize CF airways following anti-folate antibiotic exposure, induce more severe lung infections and pulmonary decline. The project pursues two specific aims: first, characterization of a glutamine feedback regulatory circuit in which glutamine modulates the transcriptional repressor GlnR activity by altering c-di-AMP levels, ultimately affecting TD-SCV growth within glutamine-deficient CF neutrophils; second, investigation of how TD-SCV infection triggers enhanced host inflammatory responses that worsen infection outcomes. The work is performed at the Arlington, Texas location. The period of performance is April 1, 2026 through April 2, 2026.

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus thymidine-dependent small-colony variants (TD-scvs) are frequently isolated from the airways of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. These mutants are thymidine auxotrophic, resulting from inactivating mutations in thymidylate synthase (thya) caused by extensive use of anti-folate antibiotics. These mutants have distinct metabolism and enlarged cell sizes. Moreover, colonization of TD-scvs is associated with chronic infection and more severe pulmonary decline, while the mechanism remains to be fully elucidated. The infection outcome is determined by both the bacterial burden and the host inflammation induced by these bacteria. Our long-term goal is to reveal the mechanisms by which TD-SCV induces more severe lung outcomes and to provide insights for innovative therapy. The central hypothesis of this proposal is that the alternation in metabolism and cell wall composition of s. Aureus TD-SCV affects its survival and infection outcomes. The research in this proposal pursues two specific aims: (1) CF neutrophils are glutamine-deficient, making DE novo glutamine synthesis in TD-SCV crucial for its intracellular survival after phagocytosis. Our data indicate that the transcription of glutamine synthesis genes in s. Aureus is regulated by the transcriptional repressor glnr, whose DNA-binding ability is modulated by both glutamine synthetase (glna) and the PII family signaling protein psta. Psta undergoes conformational changes upon binding to its ligand, c-DI-AMP, whose production changes in response to intracellular glutamine levels. We will characterize a previously unrecognized glutamine feedback regulatory circuit in which glutamine modulates glnr activity by altering c-DI-AMP levels, which in turn regulate the interaction dynamics of glnr, psta, and glna, ultimately impacting the growth of TD-SCV. (2) our data indicate that s. Aureus TD-SCV infection leads to enhanced production of the inflammatory cytokine CCL3 and subsequent elevated neutrophil infiltration. Furthermore, the elevated CCL3 induction is likely attributed to the distinct cell wall structure of TD-SCV. We will characterize how thymidine influences the synthesis of cell wall components in TD-SCV and explore its correlation with increased CCL3 induction. Additionally, we will investigate the contribution of elevated CCL3 to lung damage in a murine lung infection model. Our study will provide a potential mechanistic explanation for the persistent survival of TD- SCV in the airway and the associated decline in lung function among people with CF.