The research, which is featured on the cover of the July 17,
2005 issue of The Journal of Experimental Medicine, focused on
the major human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus and the
characteristic yellow-orange color for which it is named
("aureus" is Latin for "golden"). Among the deadliest of all
disease-causing organisms, "Staph" is the leading cause of human
infections in the skin and soft tissues, bones and joints,
abscesses and normal heart valves. Staph especially flourishes
in the hospital setting, producing bloodstream and surgical
wound infections. The spread of antibiotic resistant strains of
Staph, referred to as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus or MRSA, has reached epidemic proportions and poses a
major threat to the public health. The UCSD team proved for the
first time that the golden pigment that coats the surface of
Staph is not just for decoration; rather, the molecules that
give the bacteria its golden hue also help it resist killing by
neutrophils, white blood cells with a front li