Hyperglycemia in Diabetic Skin Infections Promotes Staphylococcus aureus Virulence Factor Aureolysin: Visualization by Molecular Imaging.

Abstract

Bacterial skin infections are common in diabetic patients, with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) being the most commonly isolated, causing comorbidities such as increased mortality and long-term hospitalization. While precise mechanisms remain to be determined, hyperglycemia represents an important pathogenetic factor responsible for the increased risk of S. aureus infection. Herein, we constructed a series of ratiometric fluorescent molecular probes for aureolysin (Aur), a major virulence factor in S. aureus. Using probe 1, we were able to determine specific Aur activity in both cells and tissues. We also observed that elevated glucose levels led to 2-fold higher Aur expression in S. aureus cultures. In a diabetic mouse model, we used molecular imaging to demonstrate that hyperglycemia tripled S. aureus Aur virulence compared to nondiabetic mice, resulting in more severe infections.

• Authors: Rao Wei, Xiang Wang, Qinghua Wang, Guifen Qiang, Leilei Zhang, Hai-Yu Hu
• Journal: ACS sensors (ACS Sens) Vol. 7 Issue 11 Pg. 3416-3421 (11 25 2022) ISSN: 2379-3694 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 36351204 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• aureolysin
• Virulence Factors

Topics

• Mice
• Animals
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Virulence Factors (metabolism)
• Staphylococcal Infections (microbiology)
• Hyperglycemia
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Molecular Imaging