Note: In Vitro Resistance to Thrombin-Induced Platelet Microbicidal Protein Is Associated with Enhanced Progression and Hematogenous Dissemination in Experimental Staphylococcus aureus Infective Endocarditis

摘要

We examined the influence of thrombin-induced platelet microbicidal protein 1 (tPMP-1) on the progression and hematogenous dissemination of experimental endocarditis caused by isogenic Staphylococcus aureus strains differing in tPMP susceptibility (tPMP^s) or resistance (tPMP^r) in vitro. Following simultaneous challenge of animals with both strains, significantly higher tPMP^r bacterial densities were present in vegetations (P < 0.0001), kidneys (P < 0.0001), and spleens (P < 0.0001) compared with those for the tPMP^s strain. These data indicate that tPMP-1 limits the intravegetation proliferation and hematogenous dissemination of a tPMP^s strain in experimental endocarditis, while the tPMP^r phenotype confers a selective advantage associated with the enhanced progression of this infection.