# Understanding the role of S. aureus agr virulence in atopic dermatitis

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2022 · $90,834

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects 15-30% of children and
approximately 5% of adults in industrialized countries. However, effective treatments to prevent and treat
this skin disease are lacking due in part to an incomplete understanding of the disease. The human
pathogen Staphylococcus aureus has been linked to AD pathogenesis because more than 90% of AD
patients are colonized in the lesional skin with the pathogen. Although S. aureus can produce multiple
virulence factors, the mechanism by which S. aureus virulence contributes to AD remains unknown. Using
a recently developed mouse model of epicutaneous S. aureus infection that resembles that observed in AD
flares, we found that activation of the S. aureus accessory gene regulatory (Agr) quorum-sensing system
induces the release of keratinocyte alarmins to trigger skin inflammation. We hypothesize that S. aureus
Agr virulence factors play a critical role in skin inflammation associated with AD.
We propose three Aims to test our hypotheses: 1) Use a novel AD mouse model to study the role of S.
aureus in skin inflammation; 2) Determine the mechanism of S. aureus colonization in the skin and
upregulation of Agr expression in lesional skin using the AD-like mouse model; 3) Examine the expression
of S. aureus Agr virulence genes in lesional and non-lesional skin of AD patients and the function of AD-
associated S. aureus in skin inflammation. These studies will provide critical insight into AD pathogenesis
that will help the development of new approaches to treat AD.
The candidate is a basic immunologist and Research Investigator at the University of Michigan. Under the
guidance of his mentors and advisory team, he will acquire new knowledge and research expertise to test
the hypothesis that both S. aureus Agr virulence and skin factors are important for triggering skin
inflammation in AD using a newly developed AD model. The research proposed in his K01 application is a
new scientific challenge in his career that offers the opportunities to integrate clinical and translational
experience with his comprehensive training in basic science. Dr. Matsumoto's career development goals
will be supported through close mentorship from an interdisciplinary team, advanced didactic coursework,
attendance at professional meetings and workshops, participation in regular seminars, guidance in
manuscript preparation and grant proposal development. This training and research activities will provide
him with the necessary skills and experience needed to become a successful independent translational
investigator.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10447488
- **Project number:** 1K01AR078931-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Masanori Matsumoto
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $90,834
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-06-01 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10447488

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10447488, Understanding the role of S. aureus agr virulence in atopic dermatitis (1K01AR078931-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10447488. Licensed CC0.

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