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Bridget M. Kuehn

JAMA. 2007;298(24):2858.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Scientists have identified a key set of proteins that enable community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to evade the immune system.

The research by scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Mont, may help to explain why and how community-acquired strains of the bacteria can cause severe infections and even death in otherwise healthy individuals (Wang R et al. Nat Med. doi: 10.1038/nm1656 [published online ahead of print November 11, 2007]). Hospital-acquired strains typically cause disease in individuals who are immune-compromised or have other risk factors.

A strategy community-acquired methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus uses to evade the immune system has been identified. (Photo credit: Janice Carr/CDC)

The scientists conducted a series of experiments probing the role of a class of peptides called phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) found in much higher concentrations in community-acquired strains of MRSA than in their hospital-acquired . . . [Full Text of this Article]