FIG 2.

ΔfakA mutant infections maintain higher bacterial titers at point of resolution initiation. Mice were infected with 1 × 10⁷ to 3 × 10⁷ CFU of WT or ΔfakA mutant S. aureus. Total lesion and ulcer areas were measured through day 4 (A and B) or day 7 (D and E) p.i. The numbers of CFU were determined on day 4 (C) or day 7 (F) p.i. (G) H&E staining of infection site skin on day 4 p.i. (scale bar, 0.5 mm; arrowheads indicate the neutrophilic boundary). *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; #, P = 0.06; ns, not significant; all by Mann-Whitney test. Data shown are means ± SEM (n = 6) for panels A, B, D, and E. The bars in panels C and F represent the medians.