Fig. 4: PSMβ deficient mutant is hypervirulent in a murine model of septic arthritis.
From: Phenol-soluble modulin α and β display divergent roles in mice with staphylococcal septic arthritis
NMRI mice (n = 11–21/group) were intravenously injected with S. aureus Newman (wild type, WT), or the isogenic mutant strains Δpsmα or Δpsmβ (5 × 106 CFU/mouse) and sacrificed on day 10 post-infection. The arthritis severity a, frequency of arthritis b, frequency of polyarthritis c, and the changes in the body weight d were monitored for 10 days post-infection. The results from three independent experiments were pooled. Statistical comparison was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test a, d, and Fisher’ s exact test b, c. Data are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean a, d or percentage b, c. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001.
