SprX small RNA

In molecular biology the small pathogenicity island RNA X gene is a bacterial non-coding RNA. It was discovered in a large-scale analysis of Staphylococcus aureus. SprX was shown to influence antibiotic resistance of the bacteria to Vancomycin and Teicoplanin glycopeptides, which are used to treat Methicillin-resistant [Staphylococcus aureus|MRSA] infections. In this study the authors identified a SprX target, stage V sporulation protein G. By reducing Spo VG expression levels, SprX affects S. aureus resistance to the glycopeptide antibiotics. Further work demonstrated its involvement in the regulation of pathogenicity factors.