FIG 7 .

Selection of S. aureus mutants from within infected HaCaT cells. (A) Phenotypes of colonies recovered from HaCaT cells infected with WT S. aureus USA300 alone or with inhibitors of autophagy or endosomal acidification or with a mixed WT-agr mutant (1:1) infection. The percentages of colonies that are hemolysis positive (+) or negative (−) are shown. (B) Hla expression detected by immunoblotting in colonies recovered in the presence of wortmannin (the increased expression of surface protein A [SpA] in the agr or hla mutant is noted). (C) RNAIII expression in representative colonies. At least four separate experiments were performed with recovery of approximately 100 to 150 WT colonies. The data shown represent a compilation of the results of four experiments at the 24-h time point.