Figure 1. Epicutaneous S. aureus induces itch and scratch-induced skin pathology.
(A) Murine model of S. aureus exposure and itch analysis
(B-E) 5-days after epicutaneous exposure, dermatitis (B), spontaneous itch (C-D), and (E) alloknesis were measured (n=8-13 males, 6-8 females per group)
(F) Analysis of total skin damage after scratching (n=8 males, 8 females per group)
(G) Total skin damage in mice allowed to scratch or prevented from scratching (n=6 males, 5-6 females per group)
(H-J) Mice inoculated with S. aureus epicutaneously or infected subcutaneously; Representative images (H), spontaneous itch (I), and alloknesis (J) on day-5 (n=16 per group)
For each panel, data combined from 2 independent experiments are shown. Data are represented as mean±SD.
Statistical analysis: (B, D, E, F, G, I, J) Two-way ANOVA with Sidak’s multiple comparisons. *P<0.05; **P<0.01; ***P<0.001; ****P<0.0001; ns, not significant. See also Figure S1, S2, and S3.