Abstract
BackgroundColonization of the body is an important step in Staphylococcus aureus infection. S. aureus colonizes skin and mucous membranes in humans and several animal species. One important ecological niche of S. aureus is the anterior nares. More than 60% of the S. aureus in the nose are found in vestibulum nasi. Our aim was to describe the localization of S. aureus in nasal tissue from healthy carriers.MethodsPunch skin biopsies were taken from vestibulum nasi from healthy volunteers (S. aureus carriers and non−/intermittent carriers, n = 39) attending the population-based Tromsø 6 study. The tissue samples were processed as frozen sections before immunostaining with a specific S. aureus antibody, and finally evaluated by a confocal laser-scanning microscope.ResultsOur results suggest that S. aureus colonize both the upper and lower layers of the epidermis within the nasal epithelium of healthy individuals. The number of S. aureus in epidermis was surprisingly low. Intracellular localization of S. aureus in nasal tissue from healthy individuals was also detected.ConclusionsKnowledge of the exact localization of S. aureus in nasal tissue is important for the understanding of the host responses against S. aureus. Our results may have consequences for the eradication strategy of S. aureus in carriers, and further work can provide us with tools for targeted prevention of S. aureus colonisation and infection.
Highlights
Colonization of the body is an important step in Staphylococcus aureus infection
The nose is an important site for Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) colonization in humans, and S. aureus is predominantly located in the anterior nasal vestibule on the septum adjacent to the nasal ostium on the moist squamous epithelium [1, 2]
For developing new strategies to eradicate S. aureus and diminish the risk of invasive disease, it is crucial to understand the host-pathogen interaction in colonization, invasion and infection. Fundamental questions of these aspects include; where in the epithelial layer is S. aureus located and how does S. aureus interact with cells in the nasal vestibule in healthy individuals? our aim was to determine where S. aureus localize in the nasal epithelium, and to evaluate a possible intracellular residency
Summary
Colonization of the body is an important step in Staphylococcus aureus infection. S. aureus colonizes skin and mucous membranes in humans and several animal species. The nose is an important site for Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) colonization in humans, and S. aureus is predominantly located in the anterior nasal vestibule on the septum adjacent to the nasal ostium on the moist squamous epithelium [1, 2]. In this location, S. aureus can exist as a commensal without any signs or symptoms of an infection. Stratum basale is the layer that separates dermis from epidermis, and it consists of undifferentiated epidermal cells. Dermis is a layer of connective tissue and contains accessory epidermal structures, lymphatic and vascular conduits, nerves and nerve endings, collagen and elastic fibers, in addition to many specialized immune cells [20, 21]
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