Simon J. Foster

BurkholderiaHep_Hag autotransporter (BuHA) proteins elicit a strong antibody response during experimental glanders but not human melioidosis (2007)

Tiyawisutsri, Rachaneeporn, Holden, Matthew TG, Tumapa, Sarinna, Rengpipat, Sirirat, Clarke, Simon R, Foster, Simon J, ...

Abstract Background The bacterial biothreat agents Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei are the cause of glanders and melioidosis, respectively. Genomic and epidemiological studies have...

BurkholderiaHep_Hag autotransporter (BuHA) proteins elicit a strong antibody response during experimental glanders but not human melioidosis (2007)

Tiyawisutsri, Rachaneeporn, Holden, Matthew TG, Tumapa, Sarinna, Rengpipat, Sirirat, Clarke, Simon R, Foster, Simon J, ...

Abstract Background The bacterial biothreat agents Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei are the cause of glanders and melioidosis, respectively. Genomic and epidemiological studies have...

AcmA of Lactococcus lactis is an N-acetylglucosaminidase with an optimal number of LysM domains for proper functioning (2005)

Steen, Anton, Buist, Girbe, Horsburgh, Gavin J., Venema, Gerard, Kuipers, Oscar P., Foster, Simon J., ...

AcmA, the major autolysin of Lactococcus lactis MG1363 is a modular protein consisting of an N-terminal active site domain and a C-terminal peptidoglycan-binding domain. The active site domain is...

CtaA of Staphylococcus aureus Is Required for Starvation Survival, Recovery, and Cytochrome Biosynthesis

Clements, Mark O., Watson, Sean P., Poole, Robert K., Foster, Simon J.

A Staphylococcus aureus mutant (SPW3) apparently unable to survive long-term starvation was shown to have a transposon insertion within a gene homologous to ctaA of Bacillus subtilis which encodes a...

Characterization of the Major Superoxide Dismutase of Staphylococcus aureus and Its Role in Starvation Survival, Stress Resistance, and Pathogenicity

Clements, Mark O., Watson, Sean P., Foster, Simon J.

A Staphylococcus aureus mutant (SPW1) which is unable to survive long-term starvation was shown to have a transposon insertion within a gene homologous to the sodA family of manganese-dependent...

Analysis of Peptidoglycan Structure from Vegetative Cells of Bacillus subtilis 168 and Role of PBP 5 in Peptidoglycan Maturation

Atrih, Abdelmadjid, Bacher, Gerold, Allmaier, Günter, Williamson, Michael P., Foster, Simon J.

The composition and fine structure of the vegetative cell wall peptidoglycan from Bacillus subtilis were determined by analysis of its constituent muropeptides. The structures of 39 muropeptides,...

In Staphylococcus aureus, Fur Is an Interactive Regulator with PerR, Contributes to Virulence, and Is Necessary for Oxidative Stress Resistance through Positive Regulation of Catalase and Iron Homeostasis

Horsburgh, Malcolm J., Ingham, Eileen, Foster, Simon J.

The Staphylococcus aureus genome encodes three ferric uptake repressor (Fur) homologues: Fur, PerR, and Zur. To determine the exact role of Fur in S. aureus, we inactivated the fur gene by allelic...

Peptidoglycan and Lipoteichoic Acid Modify Monocyte Phenotype in Human Whole Blood

Jørgensen, Pål F., Wang, Jacob E., Almlöf, Mia, Thiemermann, Christoph, Foster, Simon J., Solberg, Rigmor, ...

We examined the influence of the gram-positive cell wall products peptidoglycan (PepG) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA), compared to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), on the monocyte expression of receptors...

PerR Controls Oxidative Stress Resistance and Iron Storage Proteins and Is Required for Virulence in Staphylococcus aureus

Horsburgh, Malcolm J., Clements, Mark O., Crossley, Howard, Ingham, Eileen, Foster, Simon J.

The Staphylococcus aureus genome encodes three ferric uptake regulator (Fur) homologues: Fur, PerR, and Zur. To determine the exact role of PerR, we inactivated the gene by allelic replacement using...

Identification and Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus Components Expressed by a Model System of Growth in Serum

Wiltshire, Michael D., Foster, Simon J.

A model system mimicking Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia was developed by growth in serum under microaerobic conditions. Eight genes induced by growth in serum were identified, including an...

Evidence that the Extracytoplasmic Function Sigma Factor ςE Is Required for Normal Cell Wall Structure in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

Paget, Mark S. B., Chamberlin, Leony, Atrih, Abdelmadjid, Foster, Simon J., Buttner, Mark J.

The sigE gene of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) encodes an RNA polymerase sigma factor belonging to the extracytoplasmic function (ECF) subfamily. Constructed sigE deletion and disruption mutants were...

Characterization of the Starvation-Survival Response of Staphylococcus aureus

Watson, Sean P., Clements, Mark O., Foster, Simon J.

The starvation-survival response of Staphylococcus aureus as a result of glucose, amino acid, phosphate, or multiple-nutrient limitation was investigated. Glucose and multiple-nutrient limitation...

Peptidoglycan Structural Dynamics during Germination of Bacillus subtilis 168 Endospores

Atrih, Abdelmadjid, Zöllner, Peter, Allmaier, Günter, Williamson, Michael P., Foster, Simon J.

Peptidoglycan structural dynamics during endospore germination of Bacillus subtilis 168 have been examined by muropeptide analysis. The first germination-associated peptidoglycan structural changes...

The Staphylococcus aureus Alternative Sigma Factor ςB Controls the Environmental Stress Response but Not Starvation Survival or Pathogenicity in a Mouse Abscess Model

Chan, Pan F., Foster, Simon J., Ingham, Eileen, Clements, Mark O.

The role of ςB, an alternative sigma factor of Staphylococcus aureus, has been characterized in response to environmental stress, starvation-survival and recovery, and pathogenicity. ςB was mainly...

Role of SarA in Virulence Determinant Production and Environmental Signal Transduction in Staphylococcus aureus

Chan, Pan F., Foster, Simon J.

The staphylococcal accessory regulator (encoded by sarA) is an important global regulator of virulence factor biosynthesis in Staphylococcus aureus. To further characterize its role in virulence...

Analysis of Ebh, a 1.1-Megadalton Cell Wall-Associated Fibronectin-Binding Protein of Staphylococcus aureus

Clarke, Simon R., Harris, Llinos G., Richards, R. Geoff, Foster, Simon J.

In order for Staphylococcus aureus to adhere to host extracellular matrix (ECM) substrates, it elicits a wide range of surface proteins. We have characterized a novel ∼1.1-MDa protein in S. aureus,...

σB Modulates Virulence Determinant Expression and Stress Resistance: Characterization of a Functional rsbU Strain Derived from Staphylococcus aureus 8325-4

Horsburgh, Malcolm J., Aish, Joanne L., White, Ian J., Shaw, Les, Lithgow, James K., Foster, Simon J.

The accessory sigma factor σB controls a general stress response that is thought to be important for Staphylococcus aureus survival and may contribute to virulence. The strain of choice for genetic...

A Polysaccharide Deacetylase Gene (pdaA) Is Required for Germination and for Production of Muramic δ-Lactam Residues in the Spore Cortex of Bacillus subtilis

Fukushima, Tatsuya, Yamamoto, Hiroki, Atrih, Abdelmadjid, Foster, Simon J., Sekiguchi, Junichi

The predicted amino acid sequence of Bacillus subtilis yfjS (renamed pdaA) exhibits high similarity to those of several polysaccharide deacetylases. β-Galactosidase fusion experiments and results of...

Characterization of LytH, a Differentiation-Associated Peptidoglycan Hydrolase of Bacillus subtilis Involved in Endospore Cortex Maturation

Horsburgh, Gavin J., Atrih, Abdelmadjid, Foster, Simon J.

The cortex peptidoglycan from endospores of Bacillus subtilis is responsible for the maintenance of dormancy. LytH (YunA) has been identified as a novel sporulation-specific component with a role in...

Role of a Cysteine Synthase in Staphylococcus aureus

Lithgow, James K., Hayhurst, Emma J., Cohen, Gerald, Aharonowitz, Yair, Foster, Simon J.

The gram-positive human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is often isolated with media containing potassium tellurite, to which it has a higher level of resistance than Escherichia coli. The S. aureus...

Organ Injury and Cytokine Release Caused by Peptidoglycan Are Dependent on the Structural Integrity of the Glycan Chain

Myhre, Anders E., Stuestøl, Jon Fredrik, Dahle, Maria K., Øverland, Gunhild, Thiemermann, Christoph, Foster, Simon J., ...

Several studies have implicated a role of peptidoglycan (PepG) as a pathogenicity factor in sepsis and organ injury, in part by initiating the release of inflammatory mediators. We wanted to...

PheP, a Putative Amino Acid Permease of Staphylococcus aureus, Contributes to Survival In Vivo and during Starvation

Horsburgh, Malcolm J., Wiltshire, Michael D., Crossley, Howard, Ingham, Eileen, Foster, Simon J.

PheP, a putative amino acid permease in Staphylococcus aureus, contributes to starvation survival under glucose-limiting conditions and virulence. A pheP mutation led to poor growth after...

Analysis of the Peptidoglycan Hydrolase Complement of Lactococcus lactis: Identification of a Third N-Acetylglucosaminidase, AcmC

Huard, Carine, Miranda, Guy, Redko, Yulia, Wessner, Françoise, Foster, Simon J., Chapot-Chartier, Marie-Pierre

The peptidoglycan hydrolase (PGH) complement of Lactococcus lactis was identified by amino acid sequence similarity searching of the L. lactis IL-1403 complete genome sequence. Five PGHs that are not...

Cytoplasmic Control of Premature Activation of a Secreted Protease Zymogen: Deletion of Staphostatin B (SspC) in Staphylococcus aureus 8325-4 Yields a Profound Pleiotropic Phenotype

Shaw, Lindsey N., Golonka, Ewa, Szmyd, Grzegorz, Foster, Simon J., Travis, James, Potempa, Jan

The cytoplasmic protein SspC of Staphylococcus aureus, referred to as staphostatin B, is a very specific, tightly binding inhibitor of the secreted protease staphopain B (SspB). SspC is hypothesized...

Identification of Antigenic Components of Staphylococcus epidermidis Expressed during Human Infection

Pourmand, Mohammad R., Clarke, Simon R., Schuman, Richard F., Mond, James J., Foster, Simon J.

A spectrum of in vivo-expressed Staphylococcus epidermidis antigens was identified by probing a bacteriophage lambda library of S. epidermidis genomic DNA with human serum from infected and...

CtaA of Staphylococcus aureus Is Required for Starvation Survival, Recovery, and Cytochrome Biosynthesis

Clements, Mark O., Watson, Sean P., Poole, Robert K., Foster, Simon J.

A Staphylococcus aureus mutant (SPW3) apparently unable to survive long-term starvation was shown to have a transposon insertion within a gene homologous to ctaA of Bacillus subtilis which encodes a...

Characterization of the Major Superoxide Dismutase of Staphylococcus aureus and Its Role in Starvation Survival, Stress Resistance, and Pathogenicity

Clements, Mark O., Watson, Sean P., Foster, Simon J.

A Staphylococcus aureus mutant (SPW1) which is unable to survive long-term starvation was shown to have a transposon insertion within a gene homologous to the sodA family of manganese-dependent...

Analysis of Peptidoglycan Structure from Vegetative Cells of Bacillus subtilis 168 and Role of PBP 5 in Peptidoglycan Maturation

Atrih, Abdelmadjid, Bacher, Gerold, Allmaier, Günter, Williamson, Michael P., Foster, Simon J.

The composition and fine structure of the vegetative cell wall peptidoglycan from Bacillus subtilis were determined by analysis of its constituent muropeptides. The structures of 39 muropeptides,...

In Staphylococcus aureus, Fur Is an Interactive Regulator with PerR, Contributes to Virulence, and Is Necessary for Oxidative Stress Resistance through Positive Regulation of Catalase and Iron Homeostasis

Horsburgh, Malcolm J., Ingham, Eileen, Foster, Simon J.

The Staphylococcus aureus genome encodes three ferric uptake repressor (Fur) homologues: Fur, PerR, and Zur. To determine the exact role of Fur in S. aureus, we inactivated the fur gene by allelic...

Peptidoglycan and Lipoteichoic Acid Modify Monocyte Phenotype in Human Whole Blood

Jørgensen, Pål F., Wang, Jacob E., Almlöf, Mia, Thiemermann, Christoph, Foster, Simon J., Solberg, Rigmor, ...

We examined the influence of the gram-positive cell wall products peptidoglycan (PepG) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA), compared to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), on the monocyte expression of receptors...

PerR Controls Oxidative Stress Resistance and Iron Storage Proteins and Is Required for Virulence in Staphylococcus aureus

Horsburgh, Malcolm J., Clements, Mark O., Crossley, Howard, Ingham, Eileen, Foster, Simon J.

The Staphylococcus aureus genome encodes three ferric uptake regulator (Fur) homologues: Fur, PerR, and Zur. To determine the exact role of PerR, we inactivated the gene by allelic replacement using...

Identification and Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus Components Expressed by a Model System of Growth in Serum

Wiltshire, Michael D., Foster, Simon J.

A model system mimicking Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia was developed by growth in serum under microaerobic conditions. Eight genes induced by growth in serum were identified, including an...

Evidence that the Extracytoplasmic Function Sigma Factor ςE Is Required for Normal Cell Wall Structure in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

Paget, Mark S. B., Chamberlin, Leony, Atrih, Abdelmadjid, Foster, Simon J., Buttner, Mark J.

The sigE gene of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) encodes an RNA polymerase sigma factor belonging to the extracytoplasmic function (ECF) subfamily. Constructed sigE deletion and disruption mutants were...

Characterization of the Starvation-Survival Response of Staphylococcus aureus

Watson, Sean P., Clements, Mark O., Foster, Simon J.

The starvation-survival response of Staphylococcus aureus as a result of glucose, amino acid, phosphate, or multiple-nutrient limitation was investigated. Glucose and multiple-nutrient limitation...

Peptidoglycan Structural Dynamics during Germination of Bacillus subtilis 168 Endospores

Atrih, Abdelmadjid, Zöllner, Peter, Allmaier, Günter, Williamson, Michael P., Foster, Simon J.

Peptidoglycan structural dynamics during endospore germination of Bacillus subtilis 168 have been examined by muropeptide analysis. The first germination-associated peptidoglycan structural changes...

The Staphylococcus aureus Alternative Sigma Factor ςB Controls the Environmental Stress Response but Not Starvation Survival or Pathogenicity in a Mouse Abscess Model

Chan, Pan F., Foster, Simon J., Ingham, Eileen, Clements, Mark O.

The role of ςB, an alternative sigma factor of Staphylococcus aureus, has been characterized in response to environmental stress, starvation-survival and recovery, and pathogenicity. ςB was mainly...

Role of SarA in Virulence Determinant Production and Environmental Signal Transduction in Staphylococcus aureus

Chan, Pan F., Foster, Simon J.

The staphylococcal accessory regulator (encoded by sarA) is an important global regulator of virulence factor biosynthesis in Staphylococcus aureus. To further characterize its role in virulence...

Analysis of Ebh, a 1.1-Megadalton Cell Wall-Associated Fibronectin-Binding Protein of Staphylococcus aureus

Clarke, Simon R., Harris, Llinos G., Richards, R. Geoff, Foster, Simon J.

In order for Staphylococcus aureus to adhere to host extracellular matrix (ECM) substrates, it elicits a wide range of surface proteins. We have characterized a novel ∼1.1-MDa protein in S. aureus,...

σB Modulates Virulence Determinant Expression and Stress Resistance: Characterization of a Functional rsbU Strain Derived from Staphylococcus aureus 8325-4

Horsburgh, Malcolm J., Aish, Joanne L., White, Ian J., Shaw, Les, Lithgow, James K., Foster, Simon J.

The accessory sigma factor σB controls a general stress response that is thought to be important for Staphylococcus aureus survival and may contribute to virulence. The strain of choice for genetic...

A Polysaccharide Deacetylase Gene (pdaA) Is Required for Germination and for Production of Muramic δ-Lactam Residues in the Spore Cortex of Bacillus subtilis

Fukushima, Tatsuya, Yamamoto, Hiroki, Atrih, Abdelmadjid, Foster, Simon J., Sekiguchi, Junichi

The predicted amino acid sequence of Bacillus subtilis yfjS (renamed pdaA) exhibits high similarity to those of several polysaccharide deacetylases. β-Galactosidase fusion experiments and results of...

Characterization of LytH, a Differentiation-Associated Peptidoglycan Hydrolase of Bacillus subtilis Involved in Endospore Cortex Maturation

Horsburgh, Gavin J., Atrih, Abdelmadjid, Foster, Simon J.

The cortex peptidoglycan from endospores of Bacillus subtilis is responsible for the maintenance of dormancy. LytH (YunA) has been identified as a novel sporulation-specific component with a role in...

Role of a Cysteine Synthase in Staphylococcus aureus

Lithgow, James K., Hayhurst, Emma J., Cohen, Gerald, Aharonowitz, Yair, Foster, Simon J.

The gram-positive human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is often isolated with media containing potassium tellurite, to which it has a higher level of resistance than Escherichia coli. The S. aureus...

Organ Injury and Cytokine Release Caused by Peptidoglycan Are Dependent on the Structural Integrity of the Glycan Chain

Myhre, Anders E., Stuestøl, Jon Fredrik, Dahle, Maria K., Øverland, Gunhild, Thiemermann, Christoph, Foster, Simon J., ...

Several studies have implicated a role of peptidoglycan (PepG) as a pathogenicity factor in sepsis and organ injury, in part by initiating the release of inflammatory mediators. We wanted to...

PheP, a Putative Amino Acid Permease of Staphylococcus aureus, Contributes to Survival In Vivo and during Starvation

Horsburgh, Malcolm J., Wiltshire, Michael D., Crossley, Howard, Ingham, Eileen, Foster, Simon J.

PheP, a putative amino acid permease in Staphylococcus aureus, contributes to starvation survival under glucose-limiting conditions and virulence. A pheP mutation led to poor growth after...

Analysis of the Peptidoglycan Hydrolase Complement of Lactococcus lactis: Identification of a Third N-Acetylglucosaminidase, AcmC

Huard, Carine, Miranda, Guy, Redko, Yulia, Wessner, Françoise, Foster, Simon J., Chapot-Chartier, Marie-Pierre

The peptidoglycan hydrolase (PGH) complement of Lactococcus lactis was identified by amino acid sequence similarity searching of the L. lactis IL-1403 complete genome sequence. Five PGHs that are not...

Cytoplasmic Control of Premature Activation of a Secreted Protease Zymogen: Deletion of Staphostatin B (SspC) in Staphylococcus aureus 8325-4 Yields a Profound Pleiotropic Phenotype

Shaw, Lindsey N., Golonka, Ewa, Szmyd, Grzegorz, Foster, Simon J., Travis, James, Potempa, Jan

The cytoplasmic protein SspC of Staphylococcus aureus, referred to as staphostatin B, is a very specific, tightly binding inhibitor of the secreted protease staphopain B (SspB). SspC is hypothesized...

Identification of Antigenic Components of Staphylococcus epidermidis Expressed during Human Infection

Pourmand, Mohammad R., Clarke, Simon R., Schuman, Richard F., Mond, James J., Foster, Simon J.

A spectrum of in vivo-expressed Staphylococcus epidermidis antigens was identified by probing a bacteriophage lambda library of S. epidermidis genomic DNA with human serum from infected and...

Investigations into σB-Modulated Regulatory Pathways Governing Extracellular Virulence Determinant Production in Staphylococcus aureus

Shaw, Lindsey N., Aish, Joanne, Davenport, Jessica E., Brown, Melanie C., Lithgow, James K., Simmonite, Kay, ...

The commonly used Staphylococcus aureus laboratory strain 8325-4 bears a naturally occurring 11-bp deletion in the σB-regulating phosphatase rsbU. We have previously published a report (M. J....

Ascorbate Oxidase-Dependent Changes in the Redox State of the Apoplast Modulate Gene Transcript Accumulation Leading to Modified Hormone Signaling and Orchestration of Defense Processes in Tobacco1[W]

Pignocchi, Cristina, Kiddle, Guy, Hernández, Iker, Foster, Simon J., Asensi, Amparo, Taybi, Tahar, ...

The role of the redox state of the apoplast in hormone responses, signaling cascades, and gene expression was studied in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants with modified cell...

Catalase (KatA) and Alkyl Hydroperoxide Reductase (AhpC) Have Compensatory Roles in Peroxide Stress Resistance and Are Required for Survival, Persistence, and Nasal Colonization in Staphylococcus aureus▿

Cosgrove, Kate, Coutts, Graham, Jonsson, Ing-Marie, Tarkowski, Andrej, Kokai-Kun, John F., Mond, James J., ...

Oxidative-stress resistance in Staphylococcus aureus is linked to metal ion homeostasis via several interacting regulators. In particular, PerR controls the expression of a regulon of genes, many of...

Lysophosphatidylcholine reduces the organ injury and dysfunction in rodent models of Gram-negative and Gram-positive shock

Murch, Oliver, Collin, Marika, Sepodes, Bruno, Foster, Simon J, Mota-Filipe, Helder, Thiemermann, Christoph

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) modulates the inflammatory response and reduces mortality in animal models of sepsis. Here, we investigate the effects of LPC from synthetic (sLPC) and natural, soy bean...

Nod1 acts as an intracellular receptor to stimulate chemokine production and neutrophil recruitment in vivo

Masumoto, Junya, Yang, Kangkang, Varambally, Sooryanarayana, Hasegawa, Mizuho, Tomlins, Scott A., Qiu, Su, ...

Nod1 is a member of family of intracellular proteins that mediate host recognition of bacterial peptidoglycan. To characterize immune responses mediated by Nod1, synthetic ligand compounds possessing...

Characterization of IsaA and SceD, Two Putative Lytic Transglycosylases of Staphylococcus aureus▿

Stapleton, Melanie R., Horsburgh, Malcolm J., Hayhurst, Emma J., Wright, Lynda, Jonsson, Ing-Marie, Tarkowski, Andrej, ...

Bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan is a dynamic structure requiring hydrolysis to allow cell wall growth and division. Staphylococcus aureus has many known and putative peptidoglycan hydrolases,...

Mechanism of Gram-positive Shock: Identification of Peptidoglycan and Lipoteichoic Acid Moieties Essential in the Induction of Nitric Oxide Synthase, Shock, and Multiple Organ Failure

Kengatharan, Ken M., De Kimpe, Sjef, Robson, Caroline, Foster, Simon J., Thiemermann, Christoph

The incidence of septic shock caused by gram-positive bacteria has risen markedly in the last few years. It is largely unclear how gram-positive bacteria (which do not contain endotoxin) cause shock...

IsdA Protects Staphylococcus aureus against the Bactericidal Protease Activity of Apolactoferrin▿

Clarke, Simon R., Foster, Simon J.

An important facet of the Staphylococcus aureus host-pathogen interaction is the ability of the invading bacterium to evade host innate defenses, particularly the cocktail of host antimicrobial...