Figure 5.

Protection against USA300 by vaccination of commensal S. aureus α-hemolysin. ICR mice subcutaneously vaccinated with recombinant α-hemolysin or GFP (50 µg). (a) The antibodies (IgG) to α-hemolysin were detected in quantitative OD_570-450 measurement; (b) USA300 (10⁸ CFU) were applied onto a skin wound of vaccinated mice for 3 days. Bacterial CFUs in the skin wounds were enumerated by plating serial dilutions (1:10¹–1:10⁵) of the homogenate on a plate; The number (log₁₀ CFU/mL) of USA300 (c) and the level of pro-inflammatory MIP-2 cytokine (d) were quantified. *** p < 0.001 (two-tailed t-tests). Data shown represent the mean ± SD of experiments performed in triplicate.