Coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus colonize similar niches in mammals. Here, Chin et al. show that a coagulase-negative staphylococcus secretes 6-thioguanine, a purine analog that suppresses S. aureus growth and virulence by inhibiting de novo purine biosynthesis and toxin production.
- Denny Chin
- Mariya I. Goncheva
- David E. Heinrichs