Alpha-Toxin and Gamma-Toxin Jointly PromoteStaphylococcus aureus Virulence in Murine Septic Arthritis

IM Nilsson, O Hartford, T Foster… - Infection and …, 1999 - Am Soc Microbiol
IM Nilsson, O Hartford, T Foster, A Tarkowski
Infection and immunity, 1999Am Soc Microbiol
Septic arthritis is a common and feared complication of staphylococcal infections.
Staphylococcus aureus produces a number of potential virulence factors including certain
adhesins and enterotoxins. In this study we have assessed the roles of cytolytic toxins in the
development of septic arthritis by inoculating mice with S. aureus wild-type strain 8325-4 or
isogenic mutants differing in the expression of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-toxin production
patterns. Mice inoculated with either an alpha-or beta-toxin mutant showed degrees of …
Abstract
Septic arthritis is a common and feared complication of staphylococcal infections. Staphylococcus aureus produces a number of potential virulence factors including certain adhesins and enterotoxins. In this study we have assessed the roles of cytolytic toxins in the development of septic arthritis by inoculating mice withS. aureus wild-type strain 8325-4 or isogenic mutants differing in the expression of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-toxin production patterns. Mice inoculated with either an alpha- or beta-toxin mutant showed degrees of inflammation, joint damage, and weight decrease similar to wild-type-inoculated mice. In contrast, mice inoculated with either double (alpha- and gamma-toxin-deficient)- or triple (alpha-, beta-, and gamma-toxin-deficient)-mutant S. aureus strains showed lower frequency and severity of arthritis, measured both clinically and histologically, than mice inoculated with the wild-type strain. We conclude that simultaneous production of alpha- and gamma-toxin is a virulence factor in S. aureusarthritis.
American Society for Microbiology