Date of Award
2014
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biological Science
Abstract
Community associated–methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA–MRSA) infection has become a major health concern. In human epidermal keratinocytes, S. aureus is mainly recognized through toll–like receptor 2 (TLR2) and its co–receptor, CD14. We hypothesize that CA–MRSA isolates cause recurrent infections by interrupting TLR2–mediated inflammation in keratinocytes. Recurrent CA–MRSA bacterial culture supernatant exposure to keratinocytes in vitro resulted in significant decreases in pro and anti–inflammatory cytokine and HMGB1 secretion from keratinocytes as assessed by ELISAs. Recurrent CA–MRSA live infection did not result in significant changes in cytokine or HMGB1 secretion, surface receptor expression, or NFκB activation post infection as assessed by ELISA or Western blot respectively. We conclude that under our experimental conditions, recurrent CA–MRSA isolates do not suppress TLR2–mediated inflammation in keratinocytes by means of cell surface virulence factors. More likely, secreted factors from CA–MRSA isolates mediate this effect, perhaps by interrupting TLR2 signaling and pathogen recognition by the host immune system.
Recommended Citation
Larm, Ashley Lynn, "Characterizing the Mechanisms by Which Community Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Influences Keratinocyte Innate Immune Responses During Recurrent Infection" (2014). Master's Theses. 2627.
https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_theses/2627
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2014 Ashley Lynn Larm
