This study compared the promoter activation profiles of the 2 major transcripts of the Staphylococcus aureus global regulon, agr (RNAII and RNAIII). In vitro, RNAIII activation temporally followed RNAII activation and was absent in agr mutants. In experimental endocarditis, maximal RNAII activation in vegetations occurred early, followed by progressive increases in RNAIII activation (P<.05; 2 v...