WGS of S. aureus from Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are serious complications of type 2 diabetes and are frequently infected with Staphylococcus aureus. However, the virulence mechanisms that enable S. aureus to adapt to diabetic conditions and drive disease progression remain unclear. To investigate the relationship between S. aureus virulence and DFU severity, we freshly isolated S. aureus from DFU patients with clinical severities ranging from Grade 2 (mild) and Grade 4 (severe). We evaluated their virulence characteristics using in vitro assays and an in vivo diabetic pressure wound infection model in diabetic TALLYHO/JngJ mice. S. aureus isolates from Grade 4 DFUs exhibited significantly greater biofilm formation, hemolytic activity, and resistance to oxidative stress compared to Grade 2 isolates.