Australian scientists have discovered how Golden staph hides and thrives in human cells.

Scientists at the University of Melbourne have made a significant breakthrough in understanding how the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as Golden staph, evades detection by the immune system and thrives inside human cells. 

The research, led by Dr Abdou Hachani of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, used a state-of-the-art research tool called ‘InToxSa’ to study the behaviour of Golden staph within human cells on a large scale, providing greater efficiency and speed to the research process.

Through the InToxSa platform, the researchers tested hundreds of S. aureus strains taken from patients with bloodstream infections and identified specific genetic changes that enable the bacterium to persist inside host cells without causing harm. 

These findings are crucial for understanding how S. aureus causes severe infections and potentially lethal consequences.

The outputs of the InToxSa platform can guide precision and predictive medicine, allowing for more targeted treatments for complicated infections based on the genetic makeup of clinical samples of Golden staph.

Professor Tim Stinear, a Molecular Microbiologist at the Doherty Institute, says InToxSa is extremely powerful, combining genetic analysis, microbiological data, and statistical comparisons to handle large volumes of data in a systematic and standardised manner. 

The platform's capabilities have facilitated comprehensive scientific discoveries, including identifying clinically relevant mutations in the bacterium that promote its persistence in the body. 

This newfound knowledge will drive research efforts to develop innovative strategies to combat Golden staph infections effectively.

The findings are published in the online medical journal eLife.