Figure 6.
Effect of S. aureus-derived PAMPs on SEB-induced TSS and S. aureus-induced pneumonia. (a) HLA-DR3 transgenic mice were challenged with staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) (50 μg), staphylococcal peptidoglycan (PGN) (50 μg), or heat-killed Staphylococcus aureus (HKSA) (108 bacteria), SEB with PGN or SEB with HKSA. Animals were monitored every 6 hours (4–8 mice per group). (b) HLA-DR3 transgenic mice were challenged intratracheally with a toxigenic strain of S. aureus capable of producing the SSAg, SEA, and SEB (1.3–2.5 × 108 cfu/mouse). Immediately following bacterial inoculation, mice were left untreated or injected with HKSA intraperitoneally (108 bacteria/mouse). Animals were monitored closely for symptoms. All moribund animals were removed from the study (6–8 mice per group).