Figure 5.

(a) Infection with S. aureus induces death of pleural mesothelial cells. The organotypic co-culture model of pleura was infected with S. aureus strain ATCC 49230 for 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, or 24 h with 1 × 10³ to 1 × 10⁶ CFU/mL. The cytotoxicity of S. aureus was evaluated using LDH assay. The graphs represent the mean values ± SD from at least three independent replicates. Statistical significance of LDH changes compared to non-infected control was tested by Student’s t-test: **** p ≤ 0.0001. (b) Bacterial transmigration assay. Bacterial transmigration through the transwell (no cells seeded) and 3D organotypic co-culture model of pleura. Transwell inserts or 3D co-culture models were infected with S. aureus (1 × 10⁶ CFU/mL) for 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h. The number of bacteria in the basal compartment was calculated by plating and CFUs. All graphs represent the mean values ± SD from three independent experiments.