Figure 11. Increased FXIIIA in female mice provides protection against GBS infection.

Proposed model shows that female mice produce increased levels of FXIIIA. FXIIIA stabilizes fibrin clots. During GBS infection, FXIIIA interacts with the GBS fibronectin-binding surface protein ScpB and fibronectin, promoting bacterial entrapment, leading to diminished GBS dissemination and infection. Created with BioRender.com.