Critical Role of Alpha-Toxin and Protective Effects of Its Neutralization by a Human Antibody in Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections.

ABSTRACT: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes large-scale epidemics of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) within communities across the United States. Animal models that reproduce ABSSSI as they occur in humans are urgently needed to test new therapeutic strategies. Alpha-toxin plays a critical role in a variety of staphylococcal infection models in mice, but its role in the pathogenesis of ABSSSI remains to be elucidated in rabbits, which are similar to humans in their susceptibility to S. aureus superantigens and certain bicomponent pore-forming leukocidins. We report here a new rabbit model of ABSSSI and show that those infected with a mutant deficient in expression of alpha-toxin (Δhla) developed a small dermonecrotic lesion, whereas those infected

SUBMITTER: Le VT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5038308 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature