FIG 1.

ΔfakA mutant maintains enhanced virulence throughout infection. Mice were infected with 2 × 10⁷ CFU of WT or ΔfakA mutant S. aureus. Total lesion (A) and ulcer (B) areas were measured every other day. (C) On day 14 postinfection (p.i.), mice were euthanized and local bacterial titers (CFU) were determined. (D) Representative images of WT or ΔfakA mutant infection sites on days 2, 4, 8, and 14 p.i. Scale bars, 5 mm. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01 by Mann-Whitney test. Data shown are means ± standard errors of the means (SEM) (n = 5) for panels A and B. The bars in panel C represents the medians.