Abstract
Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections are frequently associated with strains harboring genes encoding Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). The role of PVL in the success of the epidemic CA-MRSA strain USA300 remains unknown. Here we developed a skin and soft tissue infection model in rabbits to test the hypothesis that PVL contributes to USA300 pathogenesis and compare it with well-established virulence determinants: alpha-hemolysin (Hla), phenol-soluble modulin-alpha peptides (PSMα), and accessory gene regulator (Agr). The data indicate that Hla, PSMα, and Agr contribute to the pathogenesis of USA300 skin infections in rabbits, whereas a role for PVL could not be detected.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
MeSH terms
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Abscess / microbiology
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Abscess / pathology
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Animals
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Bacterial Load
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Bacterial Proteins / genetics
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Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
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Bacterial Toxins / genetics
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Bacterial Toxins / metabolism
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Disease Models, Animal
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Exotoxins / genetics
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Exotoxins / metabolism
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Female
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Hemolysin Proteins / genetics
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Hemolysin Proteins / metabolism
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Histocytochemistry
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Leukocidins / genetics
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Leukocidins / metabolism
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Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / pathogenicity*
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Microscopy
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Rabbits
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Skin / microbiology
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Skin / pathology
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Soft Tissue Infections / microbiology*
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Soft Tissue Infections / pathology*
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Staphylococcal Skin Infections / microbiology*
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Staphylococcal Skin Infections / pathology*
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Trans-Activators / genetics
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Trans-Activators / metabolism
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Virulence
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Virulence Factors / genetics
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Virulence Factors / metabolism*
Substances
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Agr protein, Staphylococcus aureus
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Bacterial Proteins
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Bacterial Toxins
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Exotoxins
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Hemolysin Proteins
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Leukocidins
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Panton-Valentine leukocidin
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Trans-Activators
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Virulence Factors
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staphylococcal alpha-toxin