FIG 5.

Proteases contribute to increased ΔfakA mutant lesion formation. Mice were subcutaneously infected with 1 × 10⁷ to 3 × 10⁷ CFU of WT, ΔfakA, Δaur, ΔsspAB, fakA Δaur, or fakA ΔsspAB mutant S. aureus. (A to F) Total lesion (A and D) and ulcer (B and E) areas were measured daily. (C and F) Numbers of CFU were measured on day 4 p.i. *, P < 0.05 between fakA and corresponding protease mutant after calculating the area under the curve. Data shown for panels A, B, D, and E are means ± SEM of n = 16 for WT and ΔfakA mutant infections and n = 11 for Δaur, ΔsspAB, fakA Δaur, and fakA ΔsspAB mutant infections. Bars in panels C and F indicate the medians.