Figure 8.

Mouse models of wound infections. A 1 cm wound infected with USA300 was created on the dorsal skin of an ICR mouse before the wound was covered by the hydrogels and fixed with breathable tape. Wound size was observed (A) and enumerated (B) daily. Bacterial CFUs in the skin wounds were enumerated by plating serial dilutions of the homogenate (C). The number (log₁₀ CFU/mL) of USA300 (D) and the level of pro-inflammatory MIP-2 cytokine (E) were quantified. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01 (two-tailed t-tests). Data are the mean ± SD of three separate experiments.