Characterising commensal and pathogenic staphylococcal interactions with neonatal and adult blood

Isabella Anna Joubert; Christopher Mullally; Penghao Wang; Abha Chopra; Tobias Strunk; Andrew Currie

doi:10.1038/s41598-025-30393-8

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Characterising commensal and pathogenic staphylococcal interactions with neonatal and adult blood

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Characterising commensal and pathogenic staphylococcal interactions with neonatal and adult blood

Isabella Anna Joubert, Christopher Mullally, Penghao Wang, Abha Chopra, Tobias Strunk and Andrew Currie

Scientific reports, Vol.16(1), 777

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-30393-8

PMID: 41366267

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Abstract

Dual RNA-sequencing

Late-onset sepsis

Preterm infant

Staphylococcus epidermidis

Host-pathogen interaction

Neonatal sepsis

The abundant skin commensal, Staphylococcus epidermidis, is the leading cause of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm infants but rarely causes infections in term infants and adults. Staphylococcal virulence mechanisms and the role of the preterm immune responses in driving these life-threatening infections remain poorly understood. Using an ex vivo sepsis model, we challenged whole blood from very preterm infants (30-32 weeks gestational age, GA; n = 8), term infants (> 37 weeks GA; n = 8), and young adults (18-25 years; n = 8) with either live S. epidermidis or S. aureus (~ 10 colony-forming units, CFU/ml) for 90 min. Dual RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to simultaneously assess host and pathogen gene expression profiles, identifying common and pathogen-specific responses across cohorts. We found shared immune processes induced in all age groups upon bacterial challenge, including cytokine (IL1A, IL1B, IL6, IFNB1) and chemokine (CCL20, CCL3, CCL7, CXCL2) signalling. Preterm infants also exhibited unique responses, such as increased platelet activation and fibrin clot formation, Wnt signalling, and hypoxia pathways in response to S. epidermidis challenge. Our findings suggest that bacterial gene co-expression, including iron acquisition and heme biosynthesis genes, are also influenced by the hosts developmental age, highlighting the complexity of host-bacterial interactions in the early stages of neonatal sepsis.

Details

Title: Characterising commensal and pathogenic staphylococcal interactions with neonatal and adult blood
Authors/Creators: Isabella Anna Joubert - Murdoch University
Christopher Mullally - Murdoch University
Penghao Wang - Murdoch University
Abha Chopra - Murdoch University
Tobias Strunk - Mécanique et Engrenage Moderne (France)
Andrew Currie - Murdoch University
Publication Details: Scientific reports, Vol.16(1), 777
Publisher: Springer Nature; BERLIN
Number of pages: 15
Identifiers: 991005838666907891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences; Personalised Medicine Centre
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.23 Antibiotics & Antimicrobials; 1.23.1757 Group B Streptococcus
Web Of Science research areas: Pediatrics
ESI research areas: Clinical Medicine