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Nutrient availability plays a central role in these interactions as microorganisms compete for resources to sustain essential cellular processes. For instance, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are critical for protein synthesis, and valine synthesis pathway precursors are essential for energy production. In\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">S. aureus<\/jats:italic>\n                      , BCAAs are also the precursors for branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs), the dominant fatty acids in the\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">S. aureus<\/jats:italic>\n                      membrane. We previously identified a second pathway that uses branched-chain carboxylic acids (BCCAs) and the high-affinity acyl-CoA synthetase MbcS to catalyze the formation of primers for BCFA synthesis. However, the physiological role of this pathway and the conditions triggering its activation remain unclear. Here, we show that\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">mbcS<\/jats:italic>\n                      is restricted to\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">S. aureus<\/jats:italic>\n                      and closely related human-associated staphylococci. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that MbcS arose from a refunctionalization event and represents a non-orthologous replacement for the phosphotransbutyrylase (Ptb) and butyrate kinase (Buk) enzymes. Consistent with this model, Ptb and Buk from\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">Staphylococcus pseudintermedius<\/jats:italic>\n                      catalyze the formation of branched-chain acyl-CoAs from BCCAs, but only at high substrate concentrations. We further show that\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">mbcS<\/jats:italic>\n                      expression is upregulated in a CodY-deficient strain, implicating this pathway in BCAA-limited conditions. In support, we show that MbcS is required for optimal fitness during intra-species competition. Together, our findings support a model in which the MbcS-dependent pathway enables\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">S. aureus<\/jats:italic>\n                      to scavenge BCFA precursors under nutrient-limited conditions, providing a competitive advantage in polymicrobial environments.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>IMPORTANCE<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">Staphylococcus aureus<\/jats:italic>\n                      is a major contributor to polymicrobial infections, where competition for nutrients can influence bacterial physiology and survival. A deeper understanding of how\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">S. aureus<\/jats:italic>\n                      adapts to nutrient limitation is therefore essential to explain its success as a human pathogen. In\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">S. aureus<\/jats:italic>\n                      , the acyl-CoA synthetase MbcS supports branched-chain fatty acid (BCFA) synthesis from branched-chain amino acid (BCAA)-derived carboxylic acids and aldehydes, which are released into the environment as by-products of bacterial metabolism. Herein, we provide evidence that\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">S. aureus<\/jats:italic>\n                      acquired the acyl-CoA synthetase MbcS as an adaptive trait. This metabolic innovation allows this bacterium to maintain membrane homeostasis under nutrient limitation and compete against neighboring bacteria. Our findings highlight an adaptive strategy that may contribute to the persistence of\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">S. aureus<\/jats:italic>\n                      in polymicrobial infections.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1128\/jb.00185-26","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,27]],"date-time":"2026-08-27T14:21:11Z","timestamp":1787840471000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1128\/asmj-crossmark-policy-page","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["In\n                    <i>Staphylococcus aureus<\/i>\n                    , MbcS is a refunctionalized acyl-CoA synthetase that confers a fitness advantage during intra-species competition"],"prefix":"10.1128","volume":"208","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-4769-8755","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marcelle C. dos 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