Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41986312›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

An anti-adhesive compound modulating the production of Staphylococcus aureus cell wall-anchored proteins.

Allison C Leonard, Ruina Bao, Cindy Menjivar, Megan J Myers, Telmo O Paiva, Zhiyong Zheng, Kirsten A Berry, Kenneth W Bayles, Ronald S Flannagan, Yves F Dufrêne and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Allison C LeonardCollege of Biological Sciences, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4318-1417
Ruina BaoCollege of Biological Sciences, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON, Canada.
Cindy MenjivarDepartment of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
Megan J MyersDepartment of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5058-0179
Telmo O PaivaLouvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte L7.07.07, B-1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
Zhiyong ZhengLouvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte L7.07.07, B-1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7276-7425
Kirsten A BerryCollege of Biological Sciences, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON, Canada.
Kenneth W BaylesDepartment of Pathology and Microbiology. University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
Ronald S FlannaganDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3263-2227
Yves F DufrêneLouvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte L7.07.07, B-1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7289-4248
Jeffrey L BoseDepartment of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3394-9557
David E HeinrichsDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7217-2456
Georgina CoxCollege of Biological Sciences, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON, Canada. gcox@uoguelph.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3822-7505

Funding

Exogenous fatty acid utilization by Staphylococcus aureusR01AI186276 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER · PI Jeffrey Lee Bose · 2025 to 2026
$1.3M
Canada Research Chairs (Chaires de recherche du Canada) Tier 2Gouvernement du Canada | Instituts de Recherche en Santé du Canada | CIHR Skin Research Training Centre (Skin Research Training Centre) PJT-436506NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI186276
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

As one of the leading global causes of death associated with antimicrobial resistance, Staphylococcus aureus frequently colonizes the human nasal cavity and adheres to keratinized skin, establishing reservoirs that drive subsequent infections and emphasize the need for new decolonization strategies. Using a high-throughput, whole-cell screening platform, here we identify geranylgeranoic acid (GGA), a naturally occurring polyunsaturated, branched-chain fatty acid, as having dual activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). At elevated concentrations, GGA exhibits microbicidal effects, whereas at sub‑microbicidal doses, it effectively inhibits MRSA adhesion to keratin, fibronectin, fibrinogen, and immunoglobulins. GGA possesses anti-adhesive activity against a panel of multidrug-resistant S. aureus clinical isolates and demonstrates efficacy against MRSA skin and soft tissue infections in mice, offering a promising new avenue for combating this challenging pathogen. The anti-adhesive activity of GGA is attributed to the transcriptional modulation of S. aureus cell wall-anchored (CWA) proteins. For the fibronectin-binding proteins, this effect is mediated by inhibition of the SaeRS two-component system, which, in turn, down-regulates a variety of S. aureus virulence determinants. Our data also suggest that GGA targets additional transcriptional regulators beyond SaeRS. These insights expand the translational relevance of our findings and underscore the potential of GGA as an anti‑MRSA therapeutic.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsBacterial AdhesionBacterial ProteinsCell WallMethicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureusStaphylococcus aureusAdhesins, BacterialAnimalsFibronectinsHumansMiceMicrobial Sensitivity TestsStaphylococcal InfectionsAdhesins, BacterialAnti-Bacterial AgentsBacterial ProteinsFibronectins

Identifiers

PMID41986312
PMCPMC13260825

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.