@article{d7eaf802695e4fa2abd4dd0848ad10cb,
title = "Virulence Gene Expression of Staphylococcus aureus in Human Skin",
abstract = "Staphylococcus aureus is the main cause of human skin and soft tissue infections. However, S. aureus pathogenicity within the skin is not fully characterized. Here, we implemented an S. aureus cutaneous infection model using human skin explants and performed a time-course infection to study the gene expression profile of a large panel of virulence-related factors of S. aureus USA300 LAC strain, by high-throughput RT-PCR. We pinpointed the genes that were differentially regulated by the bacteria in the skin tissues and identified 12 virulence factors that were upregulated at all time points assessed. Finally, using confocal microscopy, we show that the expression of alpha-hemolysin by S. aureus varies dependent on the skin niche and that the bacteria preferentially accumulates inside sweat glands and ducts. Taken together, our study gives insights about the pathogenic lifestyle of S. aureus within human skin tissues, which may contribute for the development of anti-S. aureus therapeutic strategies.",
keywords = "gene expression, human skin, niche, pathogenicity, Staphylococcus aureus, sweat glands, virulence factors",
author = "Cruz, {Ana Rita} and {van Strijp}, {Jos A G} and Fabio Bagnoli and Manetti, {Andrea G O}",
note = "Funding Information: This work was co-sponsored by the University of Utrecht and GSK Vaccine Srl, and received funding by the European Union{\textquoteright}s Horizon 2020 Research Programs H2020-MSCA-ITN (#675106, to JS and FB). The research was performed in the preclinical research labs of GSK Vaccine Srl. Funding Information: We thank to Tarcisio Brignoli for his help with the high-throughput RT-PCR experiments, Silvia Maccari for her help with confocal microscopy and histology staining, Alfredo Pezzicoli for his support with two-photon microscopy and Elisabetta Soldaini, Stefano Censini and Manuel Amieva for the fruitful discussions. Funding. This work was co-sponsored by the University of Utrecht and GSK Vaccine Srl, and received funding by the European Union?s Horizon 2020 Research Programs H2020-MSCA-ITN (#675106, to JS and FB). The research was performed in the preclinical research labs of GSK Vaccine Srl. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Copyright {\textcopyright} 2021 Cruz, van Strijp, Bagnoli and Manetti.",
year = "2021",
month = jun,
day = "11",
doi = "10.3389/fmicb.2021.692023",
language = "English",
volume = "12",
pages = "1--10",
journal = "Frontiers in Microbiology",
issn = "1664-302X",
publisher = "Frontiers Media S. A.",
}