Fig. 6. Bacterial clearance in kidneys and joints is attenuated by PSMα.

NMRI mice (n = 8–21/group) were intravenously injected with S. aureus Newman (wild type, WT), or the isogenic mutant strains Δpsmα or Δpsmβ (5 × 10⁶ CFU/mouse) and sacrificed on day 3 or day 10 post-infection. a Kidney abscess scores and b persistence of S. aureus in kidneys 3 days and 10 days after infection. The results from four independent experiments were pooled. c Persistence of S. aureus frequency in joints including shoulders, elbows, front paws, hips, knees, and hind paws of the mice 3 days after infection. Statistical evaluations were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test a, b, or Fisher’s exact test c. Data are presented as the mean ± standard error of the mean a or median b. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001; ns not significant.