posted on 2022-11-09, 20:44authored byRao Wei, Xiang Wang, Qinghua Wang, Guifen Qiang, Leilei Zhang, Hai-Yu Hu
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.