Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus infection of bone causes severe bone damage but the mechanisms responsible remain to be established. We used the protein-rich fraction released by saline extraction of Staphylococcus aureus (SAM) to test the hypothesis that the surface-associated proteins promote bone breakdown by directly activating osteoclasts. Isolated chick osteoclasts were incubated on dentine slices with or without the surface protein fraction from S. aureus. The resulting osteoclastic excavations were measured using confocal reflection microscopic surface mapping. SAM both stimulated the formation of resorption pits and induced the production of pits with larger volume : area ratios..
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