title: Mild Staphylococcus aureus Skin Infection Improves the Course of Subsequent Endogenous S. aureus Bacteremia in Mice.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus carriers with S. aureus bacteremia may have a reduced mortality risk compared to non-carriers. A role for the immune system is suggested. Here, we study in mice the effect of mild S. aureus skin infection prior to endogenous or exogenous S. aureus bacteremia, and evaluate protection in relation to anti-staphylococcal antibody levels. Skin infections once or twice by a clinical S. aureus isolate (isolate P) or S. aureus strain 8325-4 were induced in mice free of S. aureus and anti-staphylococcal antibodies. Five weeks later, immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in blood against 25 S. aureus antigens were determined, and LD50 or LD100 bacteremia caused by S. aureus isolate P was induced. S. aureus skin infections led to elevated levels of anti-staphylococcal IgG in blood. One skin infection improved the course of subsequent severe endogenous bacteremia only. A second skin infection further improved animal survival rate, which was associated with increased pre-bacteremia IgG levels against Efb, IsaA, LukD, LukE, Nuc, PrsA and WTA. In conclusion, S. aureus isolate P skin infection in mice reduces the severity of subsequent endogenous S. aureus bacteremia only. Although cellular immune effects cannot be rules out, anti-staphylococcal IgG against specified antigens may contribute to this effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Corné P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: de Vogel
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; bioMérieux, Microbiology R&D, La Balme les Grottes, France.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Belkum
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Irma A J M
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Bakker-Woudenberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D051379:Mice; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G