Innate Sex Bias of Staphylococcus aureus Skin Infection Is Driven by α-Hemolysin.

ABSTRACT: Numerous studies have reported sex bias in infectious diseases, with bias direction dependent on pathogen and site of infection. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), yet sex bias in susceptibility to S. aureus SSTI has not been described. A search of electronic health records revealed an odds ratio of 2.4 for S. aureus SSTI in males versus females. To investigate the physiological basis of this bias, we compared outcomes between male and female mice in a model of S. aureus dermonecrosis. Consistent with the epidemiological data, female mice were better protected against SSTI, with reduced dermonecrosis followed later by increased bacterial clearance. Protection in females was disrupted by ovariectomy and restored by short-term estrogen

SUBMITTER: Castleman MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5760295 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature