Genome Plasticity of <i>agr</i> -Defective Staphylococcus aureus during Clinical Infection

Abstract

Therapy for bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus aureus is often ineffective, even when treatment conditions are optimal according to experimental protocols. Adapted subclones, such as those bearing mutations that attenuate agr -mediated virulence activation, are associated with persistent infection and patient mortality.