Background: The transition from colonization to invasion is critical in diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). Staphylococcus aureus can colonize DFU, or invade the underlying tissues, causing serious infections. The ROSA-like prophage has previously been implicated in strain colonization characteristics of S aureus isolates in uninfected ulcers.
Methods: In this study, we investigated this prophage in the S aureus-colonizing strain using an in vitro chronic wound medium mimicking the chronic wound environment.
Results: Chronic wound medium reduced bacterial growth and increased biofilm formation and virulence in a zebrafish model.
Conclusions: The ROSA-like prophage promoted intracellular survival of S aureus-colonizing strain in macrophages, keratinocytes, and osteoblasts.
Keywords: ROSA-like prophage; chronic wound medium; colonizing Staphylococcus aureus; diabetic foot ulcer.
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