Polyunsaturated fatty acids: host-derived antimicrobials against glycolytic Staphylococcus aureus.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids effectively kill glycolytic Staphylococcus aureus strains, including persisters and small colony variants, by inducing lipid peroxidation.

• Why it matters: Persistent S. aureus infections are difficult to treat due to metabolic flexibility and resistance to conventional antibiotics targeting rapidly dividing cells, necessitating new antimicrobial strategies.
• What they did: The study examined how PUFAs, especially arachidonic acid, kill S. aureus by measuring autoxidation rates and comparing glycolytic versus respiring strains, revealing glycolytic strains are more vulnerable.
• The result: Elevating ATP levels in glycolytic bacteria reduces PUFA killing, highlighting cellular energy status as a key factor and identifying potential pathways to enhance immune clearance of persistent infections.