06.03.2024

Reconstruction of a metabolic model for Staphylococcus warneri AW25

In her bachelor thesis, Sophia Krappen created the first genome-scale model for the AW25 strain of S. warneri.

S. warneri belongs to the genus Staphylococcus and is widespread on human skin and mucous membranes. The bacterium acts both as a commensal organism and a potential infection source. Infections are primarily observed in immunocompromised individuals and newborns. To research new treatment methods and better understand the bacterium’s metabolism, a model of the AW25 strain of S. warneri was created in this bachelor thesis. The validation of the model included identifying essential genes that provide information about weak points and potential drug targets. Sophia Krappen examined the growth of the bacterium in silico on various media, such as the synthetic nasal medium SNM3. A comparative analysis with the Staphylococcus aureus model iYS854 highlights standard and unique metabolic features. The generated model can serve as a starting point for further investigation of S. warneri and its interaction with other organisms.