Figure 4.

SpeB-mediated cleavage of desmogleins contributes to epidermal barrier dysfunction. Cutaneous sections obtained from mice infected with the examined S. pyogenes strains were subjected to immunofluorescence staining. Dsg1 and Dsg3 were labeled with anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3 antibodies, respectively, followed by incubation with an Alexa Fluor 647-conjugated antibody. S. pyogenes was labeled with anti-Group A carbohydrate and Alexa Fluor 488-conjugated antibodies, and cell nuclei were stained with Hoechst 33342. Obtained tissue sections were analyzed using a confocal laser microscope. The boxed area is magnified in the box panel below. Data shown are representative of at least three separate experiments.