In molecular biology the small pathogenicity island RNA X (alias RsaOR) gene is a bacterial non-coding RNA. It was discovered in a large-scale analysis of Staphylococcus aureus.[1] SprX was shown to influence antibiotic resistance of the bacteria to Vancomycin and Teicoplaninglycopeptides, which are used to treat MRSA infections.[2] In this study the authors identified a SprX target, stage V sporulation protein G (Spo VG). By reducing Spo VG expression levels, SprX affects S. aureus resistance to the glycopeptide antibiotics. Further work demonstrated its involvement in the regulation of pathogenicity factors.[3]
^Kathirvel M, Buchad H, Nair M (December 2016). "Enhancement of the pathogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus strain Newman by a small noncoding RNA SprX1". Medical Microbiology and Immunology. 205 (6): 563–574. doi:10.1007/s00430-016-0467-9. PMID27438010. S2CID15284645.