Staphylococcus aureus LDHA

Staphylococcus aureus LDHA (Lactate Dehydrogenase A) is a metabolic enzyme of Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram-positive bacterium responsible for diverse infections. LDHA catalyzes the final step of anaerobic glycolysis, converting pyruvate to lactate while regenerating NAD+-a coenzyme essential for sustaining glycolysis. This function is critical for Staphylococcus aureus survival, especially in oxygen-limited (hypoxic) host environments like abscesses or deep tissue infections, where aerobic respiration is impaired. By maintaining glycolytic flux, LDHA ensures the bacterium produces sufficient energy (ATP) to grow and replicate. Beyond metabolism, LDHA may also contribute to bacterial virulence by regulating the production of other virulence factors or modifying the host's local microenvironment (e.g., acidifying tissues via lactate production, which can inhibit immune cell function). Due to its role in essential anaerobic metabolism, LDHA is a potential target for anti-staphylococcal drugs; inhibiting LDHA could disrupt energy production and limit bacterial survival in hypoxic infection sites.