Vancomycin Activates σB in Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Resulting in the Enhancement of Cytotoxicity

The alternative transcription factor σ(B) is responsible for transcription in Staphylococcus aureus during the stress response. Many virulence-associated genes are directly or indirectly regulated by σ(B). We hypothesized that treatment with antibiotics may act as an environmental stressor that induces σ(B) activity in antibiotic-resistant strains. Several antibiotics with distinct modes of action, including ampicillin (12 µg/ml), vancomycin (16...