<i>De Novo</i> Guanine Biosynthesis but Not the Riboswitch-Regulated Purine Salvage Pathway Is Required for Staphylococcus aureus Infection <i>In Vivo</i>

Abstract

De novo guanine biosynthesis and purine salvage genes were reported to be regulated by a guanine riboswitch in Staphylococcus aureus We demonstrate here that this is not true, because alternative promoter elements that uncouple the de novo pathway from riboswitch regulation were identified. We found that in animal models of infection, the purine salvage pathway is insufficient for S. aureus survival in the absence of de novo guanine biosynthesis. These data suggest targeting the de novo guanine biosynthesis pathway may have therapeutic utility in the treatment of S. aureus infections.