Fluorescent Reporters for Studies of Cellular Localization of Proteins in Staphylococcus aureus

We have constructed a set of plasmids that allow expression, from their native chromosomal loci, of Staphylococcus aureus proteins fused to one of four different fluorescent proteins (green fluorescent protein [GFP], cyan fluorescent protein [CFP], yellow fluorescent protein [YFP], and mCherry), using two different resistance markers (kanamycin and erythromycin). We have also constructed a plasmid that allows expression of proteins from the ectopic spa locus in the S. aureus chromosome. This toolbox can be used for studies of the localization of proteins in S. aureus, a prominent pathogen in both health care and community settings.