Molecular characterization of the cell types required for the development of S. aureus biofilms

This proposal presents a plan for the identification and physiological characterization of the subpopulations of specialized cells responsible for biofilm formation and virulence in staphylococcal communities as well as the identification of the molecular mechanism responsible for the differentiation of these subpopulations. We will study how the presence of antibiotics traditionally used to treat staphylococcal infections affect to the differentiation of the abovementioned cell types mentioned above and thus, to the morphology and development of staphylococcal biofilms.