Figure 3. Autophagy Mediates Susceptibility to S. aureus Lung Infection.

(A) Survival curve of WT and Atg16L1^HM mice inoculated intranasally with 4x10⁸ cfu USA300 or equivalent volume of PBS. n=15 mice/group for USA300 and n=5 mice/group for PBS.

(B) Disease score of WT and Atg16L1^HM mice 6 hours post intranasal inoculation with 4x10⁸ cfu USA300. Disease score was calculated using a 7-point activity assessment score based on mobility, food and water intake, posture, and fur ruffling (see supplemental methods). n=10 mice/group. Data represent mean and SEM.

(C) Representative H&E-stained sections of lungs from WT and Atg16L1^HM mice 6 hr post intranasal inoculation with 4x10⁸ cfu USA300. scale bar = 200 μm.

(D–E) Higher magnification images showing features only present in the lungs from Atg16L1^HM mice. Black arrow head in (D) indicates fibrin thrombus and asterisk in (E) indicates edema. scale bar = 200 μm (D) or 20 μm (E).

(F) Blind quantification of pathology observed in lungs from WT and Atg16L1^HM mice. Score was calculated using a 5-point score based on tissue destruction, hemorrhage, and visible cocci (see supplemental methods). n=10 mice/group. Data represent mean and SEM.

(G) Survival curve of WT and LC3B^−/− mice inoculated intranasally with 4x10⁸ cfu USA300. n=15–20 mice/group.

Data represent at least 2 independent experiments. *p<0.05, ****p<0.0001