RN was partially funded by a Marie Curie European Re-integration Grants (ERG) from the European Community&#x2019;s Seventh Framework Programme, project number 268324.

1. Isolation of PMNs From Human Blood by Density Centrifugation
<ol>
 <li>Draw 5 9 ml tubes of heparinized venous blood.</li>
 <li>Prepare dual layer Ficoll gradients (4 gradients for 5 tubes blood) as follows: Pour 12 ml of a density 1.119 g/ml ficoll solution in a 50 ml tube and carefully layer 10 ml of a density 1.077 g/ml ficoll solution on top.</li>
 <li>Dilute the blood with an equal volume of PBS.</li>
 <li>Layer the diluted blood carefully on the dual layer Ficoll gradient; 20-25 ml per gradient.</li>
 <li>Centrifuge 20 min at 396 x g in a swinging bucket rotor, 22 &deg;C without braking.</li>
 <li>Prepare cold RPMI containing 0.05% Human Serum Albumin (RPMI-HSA). Also prepare 9 ml sterile deionized H2O. Pre-cool both the RPMI and H2O on ice.</li>
 <li>Aspirate the top Ficoll layer containing plasma (yellow colored) and PBMC, and the second layer of Ficoll (white colored) with the use of a vacuum pump (put a sterile pipette tip on the pipette).</li>
 <li>Collect the PMNs in 50 ml tubes using a small plastic pipette (1 tube for the PMN fractions of every 2 gradients), and place them on ice.</li>
 <li>Add cold RPMI-HSA to a total volume of 50 ml and centrifuge for 10 min at 249 x g at 4 &deg;C.</li>
 <li>Take off the supernatant with the use of a vacuum pump and vortex the pellet gently (erythrocytes and PMNs).</li>
 <li>Add 9 ml sterile deionized H2O and start the timer. Stop the hyper osmotic shock after 30 sec exactly, by adding 1 ml 10 times concentrated PBS. Note: the 30 sec are very critical.</li>
 <li>Add cold RPMI-HSA to a total volume of 50 ml and centrifuge for 10 min at 249 x g at 4 &deg;C.</li>
 <li>Take off the supernatant with the use of a vacuum pump and collect the PMN pellet in 1 tube with a defined volume (1-2 ml) RPMI-HSA.</li>
 <li>Determine the amount of cells and adjust the concentration to 1.107 cells/ml. Depending on the donor, the yield of isolated PMNs will be between 5 x 106 and 3 x 107 PMNs from each 9 ml tube of blood</li>
</ol>
2. Flow Cytometric Assay for Assessment of Calcium Mobilization in Human PMNs
<ol>
 <li>Load cells (5 x 106 cells/ml) with 2 &mu;M Fluo-3-AM in RPMI-HSA and incubate for 20 min at room temperature rocking slowly, using for instance a rocking platform shaker, protected from light.</li>
 <li>In the meantime prepare a serial dilution (e.g. 3-fold) of the stimulus at 10x the final concentration. PSM&alpha;3 is used in this protocol; however any GPCR stimulus which acts on neutrophils is suitable.</li>
 <li>Prepare 10x concentrated inhibitor of the receptor in RPMI-HSA. When the inhibitor acts on the stimulus (e.g. HDL on PSM&alpha;3) pre-incubate 25 &mu;l stimulus with an equal volume of inhibitor for 10 min at room temperature.</li>
 <li>Wash cells by adding 10 ml of RPMI-HSA and centrifuge for 249 x g at room temperature. Resuspend cells to 5 x 106 cells/ml.</li>
 <li>Just before the experiment, dilute the cells to 2x106 cells/ml in RPMI-HSA and add 200 &mu;l cells per FACS tube. Diluted PMNs are very fragile. Keeping them too long at this concentration will lead to auto-activation; the same holds for vigorous shaking or pipetting.</li>
 <li>Attach the tube to the flow cytometer, wait 3 sec and start acquisition. After a fixed time period (e.g. 8 sec), take off the tube and rapidly add 50 &mu;l stimulus to the sample. Immediately re-attach the tube onto the sample holder and continue the acquisition.</li>
 <li>Start with the lowest and end with the highest concentration of stimulus. Wash the flow cytometer needle regularly after each run with RPMI-HSA.</li>
 <li>Analyze data with flow cytometry analysis software. Compare the average fluorescence signal before addition of the stimulus to that after addition of the stimulus and use the appropriate positive and negative controls to calculate the activation strength for each dilution measured.</li>
</ol>
Alternatively when the inhibitor acts on the receptor pre-incubate the cells with the inhibitor.
3. Fluorescence Microscopy Analysis of Bacteria GFP Expression after Phagocytosis by PMNs
<ol>
 <li>Grow S. aureus strains containing a reporter construct of interest over night in broth (with antibiotics when required to maintain the reporter plasmid). In this case strain MW2 containing a PSM&alpha; GFP reporter construct is used 10, grown in a 50 ml plastic tube with 5 ml of LB culture medium.</li>
 <li>To remove all GFP from O/N expression, dilute the cultures to OD660 0.01 and grow to OD660 0.1. Redilute this culture 1:30, and monitor growth until the culture reaches an OD660 of 0.1. Collect the bacteria by centrifugation and wash once in DPBS. Resuspend in 1:10 of the original volume to obtain an OD660 of 1.0 or roughly 5.108 CFU/ml.</li>
 <li>Mix the bacteria (1.107/ml) with freshly isolated PMNs (1.106/ml) in RPMI-HSA (ratio 10:1) in a 1.5 ml microtube and add pooled human serum to a final concentration of 10%. Shake on a shaking platform for 10 min at 37 &deg;C to stimulate phagocytosis. Dilute the PMNs loaded with bacteria to 5.105 PMNs/ml and pipette 250 &mu;l into a well of an 8 well chambered cover slip.</li>
 <li>Image the PMNs with bacteria on a microscope. An inverted microscope equipped with a 40X/0.85 NA objective works well and should be encased in a dark environment chamber to keep the environment stably at 37 &deg;C. Acquire images for a number of preset positions using the camera every 5-10 min in both the bright field and the GFP channel to follow GFP production in time.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Rigby, K. M., DeLeo, F. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neutrophils+in+innate+host+defense+against+Staphylococcus+aureus+infections.">Neutrophils in innate host defense against Staphylococcus aureus infections.</a> Semin. Immunopathol. 34, 237-259 (2012).</li><li>Voyich, J. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Insights+into+Mechanisms+Used+by+Staphylococcus+aureus+to+Avoid+Destruction+by+Human+Neutrophils.">Insights into Mechanisms Used by Staphylococcus aureus to Avoid Destruction by Human Neutrophils.</a> The Journal of Immunology. 175, 3907-3919 (2005).</li><li>Kobayashi, S. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rapid+neutrophil+destruction+following+phagocytosis+of+Staphylococcus+aureus.">Rapid neutrophil destruction following phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus.</a> J. Innate Immun. 2, 560-575 (2010).</li><li>DeLeo, F. R., Otto, M., Kreiswirth, B. N., Chambers, H. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Community-associated+meticillin-resistant+Staphylococcus+aureus.">Community-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.</a> The Lancet. 375, 1557 (2010).</li><li>David, M. Z., Daum, R. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Community-Associated+Methicillin-Resistant+Staphylococcus+aureus:+Epidemiology+and+Clinical+Consequences+of+an+Emerging+Epidemic.">Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Epidemiology and Clinical Consequences of an Emerging Epidemic.</a> Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 23, 616-687 (2010).</li><li>Kretschmer, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+Formyl+Peptide+Receptor+2+Senses+Highly+Pathogenic+Staphylococcus+aureus.">Human Formyl Peptide Receptor 2 Senses Highly Pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus.</a> Cell Host &amp; Microbe. 7, 463 (2010).</li><li>Prat, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+homolog+of+formyl+peptide+receptor-like+1+(FPRL1)+inhibitor+from+Staphylococcus+aureus+(FPRL1+inhibitory+protein)+that+inhibits+FPRL1+and+FPR.">A homolog of formyl peptide receptor-like 1 (FPRL1) inhibitor from Staphylococcus aureus (FPRL1 inhibitory protein) that inhibits FPRL1 and FPR.</a> J. Immunol. 183, 6569-6578 (2009).</li><li>Prat, C., Bestebroer, J., de Haas, C. J. C., van Strijp, J. A. G., van Kessel, K. P. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+New+Staphylococcal+Anti-Inflammatory+Protein+That+Antagonizes+the+Formyl+Peptide+Receptor-Like+1.">A New Staphylococcal Anti-Inflammatory Protein That Antagonizes the Formyl Peptide Receptor-Like 1.</a> The Journal of Immunology. 177, 8017-8026 (2006).</li><li>de Haas, C. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chemotaxis+inhibitory+protein+of+Staphylococcus+aureus,+a+bacterial+antiinflammatory+agent.">Chemotaxis inhibitory protein of Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterial antiinflammatory agent.</a> The Journal of Experimental Medicine. 199, 687-695 (2004).</li><li>Surewaard, B. G. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Inactivation+of+Staphylococcal+Phenol+Soluble+Modulins+by+Serum+Lipoprotein+Particles.">Inactivation of Staphylococcal Phenol Soluble Modulins by Serum Lipoprotein Particles.</a> PLoS Pathog. 8, e1002606 (2012).</li><li>Kubica, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Potential+New+Pathway+for+Staphylococcus+aureus+Dissemination:+The+Silent+Survival+of+S.+aureus+Phagocytosed+by+Human+Monocyte-Derived+Macrophages.">A Potential New Pathway for Staphylococcus aureus Dissemination: The Silent Survival of S. aureus Phagocytosed by Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages.</a> PLoS ONE. 3, e1409 (2008).</li><li>Surewaard, B. G. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Staphylococcal+alpha-phenol+soluble+modulins+contribute+to+neutrophil+lysis+after+phagocytosis.">Staphylococcal alpha-phenol soluble modulins contribute to neutrophil lysis after phagocytosis.</a> Cellular Microbiology. , (2013).</li><li>Queck, S. Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=RNAIII-Independent+Target+Gene+Control+by+the+agr+Quorum-Sensing+System:+Insight+into+the+Evolution+of+Virulence+Regulation+in+Staphylococcus+aureus.">RNAIII-Independent Target Gene Control by the agr Quorum-Sensing System: Insight into the Evolution of Virulence Regulation in Staphylococcus aureus.</a> Molecular Cell. 32, 150 (2008).</li><li>Baban, C. K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bioluminescent+Bacterial+Imaging+In+Vivo.">Bioluminescent Bacterial Imaging In Vivo.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (69), e4318 (2012).</li></ol>

The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

In the methods described here some steps are very critical. We will highlight these here.
For the isolation of neutrophils by density gradient centrifugation it is important not to disturb the layers during or after the centrifugation steps. When aspirating the neutrophils using a plastic pipette, make sure not to squeeze the balloon while in the layer of cells, as ejecting liquid will disturb the layers. Also, visually inspect the pellet of neutrophils after the osmotic shock and centrifugat...

Neutrophils (PMNs) are professional phagocytes that play a key role in the innate immune response against Staphylococcus aureus 1. The constant battle between host and microbe has led to an arms race of both. Recently, community-associated (CA) strains of meticillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) have emerged that seem to be very efficient in circumvention of neutrophil killing 2,3. Excessive phenol soluble modulin (PSMs) production of CA-MRSA has been associated with higher virulence 4,5. Human neutrophils can recognize these PSMs via FPR2 which lead to activation of this G-protein coupled receptor 6. One of the earliest events is the mobilization of intracellular stores of calcium (Ca2+). Ca2+ acts as a secondary messenger for a variety of effector functions of PMNs including degranulation and phagocytosis 7. Therefore Ca2+ is a very sensitive indicator of the functional capacity of PSMs to activate PMNs. To study the effects of PSMs on neutrophils, fresh neutrophils are isolated and loaded with a dye that fluoresces upon calcium mobilization. In a flow cytometry experiment this rapid mobilization can be measured. Using this method, it is possible to study the direct effects of toxic and other components on neutrophils, and determine the lowest concentration at which these are active. For us, it is a very useful tool to study the effect of many proteins produced by S. aureus involved in immune evasion, such as FPR2 inhibitory protein (FLIPr) 8, FLIPr-like 7, and Chemotaxis inhibitory protein of Staphylococcus aureus (CHIPS) 9. All these proteins have been shown to inhibit the calcium mobilization in neutrophils by binding to the receptor recognizing the agonist.
Recently, our group has described that PSMs are functionally inhibited by serum lipoproteins 10 . These lipoproteins are abundantly present within the blood and human tissue, indicating that PSMs exert their function primarily in the intracellular environment. The availability of the calcium mobilization assay allowed us to precisely measure the effect of serum lipoproteins on activation of neutrophils by the PSMs, indicated by the considerable inhibition by very low concentrations of serum.
Since the PSMs are functionally inhibited by serum, we hypothesized that there is an important function for PSMs as intracellular toxins. We therefore sought to determine the role of PSMs after phagocytosis. To investigate the expression of the PSMs in the intercellular space, we have constructed reporter fusions of the promoter of the psm&alpha; operon to GFP. When these reporter strains of S. aureus were phagocytosed by neutrophils, the induction of expression was observable using fluorescence microscopy 10. Obviously, this technique allows the study of the expression of a large number of genes in S. aureus or other pathogens after phagocytosis. Since for S. aureus surviving in the intercellular niche is very important to overcome the innate immune system11 10 12, studying the role of genes activated in this niche is highly relevant to understanding its virulence.

<table border="1">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Name of Material/ Equipment</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluo-3, AM</td>
			<td>Molecular Probes / Life Technologies</td>
			<td>F-1241</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ficoll-Paque</td>
			<td>GE Healthcare</td>
			<td>17-5442-03</td>
			<td>density 1.077 g/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Histopaque</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>11191</td>
			<td>density 1.119 g/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RPMI 1640</td>
			<td>Gibco, Life Technologies</td>
			<td>52400-025</td>
			<td>contains 25 mM HEPES and L-glutamine</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Leica TCS SP5 microscope</td>
			<td>Leica Microsystems, The Netherlands</td>
			<td>TCS SP5</td>
			<td>objective: HCX PL APO 40X/0.85</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FACSCalibur</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>FACSCalibur</td>
			<td>Very important that the tube can be removed and replaced during the measurement process</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

studying interactions of staphylococcus aureus with neutrophils by flow cytometry and time lapse microscopy

We present methods to study the effect of phenol soluble modulins (PSMs) and other toxins produced and secreted by Staphylococcus aureus on neutrophils. To study the effects of the PSMs on neutrophils we isolate fresh neutrophils using density gradient centrifugation. These neutrophils are loaded with a dye that fluoresces upon calcium mobilization. The activation of neutrophils by PSMs initiates a rapid and transient increase in the free intracellular calcium concentration. In a flow cytometry experiment this rapid mobilization can be measured by monitoring the fluorescence of a pre-loaded dye that reacts to the increased concentration of free Ca2+. Using this method we can determine the PSM concentration necessary to activate the neutrophil, and measure the effects of specific and general inhibitors of the neutrophil activation.	
	To investigate the expression of the PSMs in the intracellular space, we have constructed reporter fusions of the promoter of the PSM&alpha; operon to GFP. When these reporter strains of S. aureus are phagocytosed by neutrophils, the induction of expression can be observed using fluorescence microscopy.

Flow cytometric assay for assessment of calcium mobilization in human PMNs
Incubating neutrophils with a concentration series of synthetic PSM&alpha;3 resulting in rapid activation as measured by calcium flux, which is shown by an increase in the signal in FL-1. Pre-incubation of synthetic PSM&alpha;3 with 0.01%, 0.1% or 1% human serum significantly inhibited the ability to elicit calcium fluxes (Figure 1).
Analysis of GFP expression in bacteria after pha...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Studying Interactions of Staphylococcus aureus with Neutrophils by Flow Cytometry and Time Lapse Microscopy at JoVE.com

Studying Interactions of Staphylococcus aureus with Neutrophils by Flow Cytometry and Time Lapse Microscopy

We present methods to study the effect of PSMs and other toxins secreted by Staphylococcus aureus on neutrophils using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.

Studying Interactions of Staphylococcus aureus with Neutrophils by Flow Cytometry and Time Lapse Microscopy

We present methods to study the effect of phenol soluble modulins (PSMs)  and other toxins produced and secreted by Staphylococcus  aureus on neutrophils. ...

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JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

13.0K Views.  University Medical Center Utrecht. We present methods to study the effect of PSMs and other toxins secreted by Staphylococcus aureus on neutrophils using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.

Video: Studying Interactions of Staphylococcus aureus with Neutrophils by Flow Cytometry and Time Lapse Microscopy

The Use of Drip Flow and Rotating Disk Reactors for Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Analysis

Most microbes in nature are thought to exist as surface-associated communities in biofilms.1 Bacterial biofilms are encased within a matrix and attached to a surface.2 Biofilm formation and development are commonly studied in the laboratory using batch systems such as microtiter plates or flow systems, such as flow-cells. These methodologies are useful for screening mutant and chemical libraries (microtiter plates)3 or growing biofilms for visualization (flow cells)4. Here we present detailed protocols for growing Staphylococcus aureus in two additional types of flow system biofilms: the drip flow biofilm reactor and the rotating disk biofilm reactor.
Drip flow biofilm reactors are designed for the study of biofilms grown under low shear conditions.5 The drip flow reactor consists of four parallel test channels, each capable of holding one standard glass microscope slide sized coupon, or a length of catheter or stint. The drip flow reactor is ideal for microsensor monitoring, general biofilm studies, biofilm cryosectioning samples, high biomass production, medical material evaluations, and indwelling medical device testing.6,7,8,9
The rotating disk reactor consists of a teflon disk containing recesses for removable coupons.10 The removable coupons can by made from any machinable material. The bottom of the rotating disk contains a bar magnet to allow disk rotation to create liquid surface shear across surface-flush coupons. The entire disk containing 18 coupons is placed in a 1000 mL glass side-arm reactor vessel. A liquid growth media is circulated through the vessel while the disk is rotated by a magnetic stirrer. The coupons are removed from the reactor vessel and then scraped to collect the biofilm sample for further study or microscopy imaging. Rotating disc reactors are designed for laboratory evaluations of biocide efficacy, biofilm removal, and performance of anti-fouling materials.9,11,12,13

The Use of Drip Flow and Rotating Disk Reactors for Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Analysis

Protocols for utilizing open system flow biofilms with drip flow reactors and rotating disk reactors are presented in detail.

Most microbes in nature are thought to exist as surface-associated communities in biofilms.1  Bacterial biofilms are encased within a matrix and attached ...

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

MRSA is a worldwide threat to public health, and MRSA skin and soft-tissue infections now account for more than half of all soft-tissue infections in the United States. Among soft-tissue infections, myositis, pyomyositis, and necrotizing fasciitis have been increasingly reported in association with MRSA arising from the community. To understand the interplay between MRSA and host immunity leading to more severe infection, the availability of animal models is critical, permitting the study of host and bacterial factors. Several infection models have been introduced to assess the pathogenesis of S. aureus during superficial skin infection. Here, we describe a subcutaneous infection model that examines the skin, subcutaneous, and muscle pathologies.

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA

Murine skin and soft tissue infection model is utilized for assessing the virulence function of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the host immunological responses. Here, we presented a subcutaneous infection model for skin and soft tissue infection.

MRSA is a worldwide threat to public health, and MRSA skin and soft-tissue infections now account for more than half of all soft-tissue infections in the ...

Staphylococcus aureus Growth using Human Hemoglobin as an Iron Source

S. aureus is a pathogenic bacterium that requires iron to carry out vital metabolic functions and cause disease. The most abundant reservoir of iron inside the human host is heme, which is the cofactor of hemoglobin. To acquire iron from hemoglobin, S. aureus utilizes an elaborate system known as the iron-regulated surface determinant (Isd) system1. Components of the Isd system first bind host hemoglobin, then extract and import heme, and finally liberate iron from heme in the bacterial cytoplasm2,3. This pathway has been dissected through numerous in vitro studies4-9. Further, the contribution of the Isd system to infection has been repeatedly demonstrated in mouse models8,10-14. Establishing the contribution of the Isd system to hemoglobin-derived iron acquisition and growth has proven to be more challenging. Growth assays using hemoglobin as a sole iron source are complicated by the instability of commercially available hemoglobin, contaminating free iron in the growth medium, and toxicity associated with iron chelators. Here we present a method that overcomes these limitations. High quality hemoglobin is prepared from fresh blood and is stored in liquid nitrogen. Purified hemoglobin is supplemented into iron-deplete medium mimicking the iron-poor environment encountered by pathogens inside the vertebrate host. By starving S. aureus of free iron and supplementing with a minimally manipulated form of hemoglobin we induce growth in a manner that is entirely dependent on the ability to bind hemoglobin, extract heme, pass heme through the bacterial cell envelope and degrade heme in the cytoplasm. This assay will be useful for researchers seeking to elucidate the mechanisms of hemoglobin-/heme-derived iron acquisition in S. aureus and possibly other bacterial pathogens.

Staphylococcus aureus Growth using Human Hemoglobin as an Iron Source

Here we describe a growth assay for Staphylococcus aureus using hemoglobin as the sole source of available nutrient iron. This assay establishes the role of bacterial factors involved in hemoglobin-derived iron acquisition.

S. aureus is a pathogenic bacterium that requires iron to  carry out vital metabolic functions and cause disease. The most abundant  reservoir of iron ...

A Simple and Efficient Method to Detect Nuclear Factor Activation in Human Neutrophils by Flow Cytometry

Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes in peripheral blood. These cells are the first to appear at sites of inflammation and infection, thus becoming the first line of defense against invading microorganisms. Neutrophils possess important antimicrobial functions such as phagocytosis, release of lytic enzymes, and production of reactive oxygen species. In addition to these important defense functions, neutrophils perform other tasks in response to infection such as production of proinflammatory cytokines and inhibition of apoptosis. Cytokines recruit other leukocytes that help clear the infection, and inhibition of apoptosis allows the neutrophil to live longer at the site of infection. These functions are regulated at the level of transcription. However, because neutrophils are short-lived cells, the study of transcriptionally regulated responses in these cells cannot be performed with conventional reporter gene methods since there are no efficient techniques for neutrophil transfection. Here, we present a simple and efficient method that allows detection and quantification of nuclear factors in isolated and immunolabeled nuclei by flow cytometry. We describe techniques to isolate pure neutrophils from human peripheral blood, stimulate these cells with anti-receptor antibodies, isolate and immunolabel nuclei, and analyze nuclei by flow cytometry. The method has been successfully used to detect NF-&kappa;B and Elk-1 nuclear factors in nuclei from neutrophils and other cell types. Thus, this method represents an option for analyzing activation of transcription factors in isolated nuclei from a variety of cell types.

Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes in blood. Neutrophils possess transcriptionally regulated functions such as production of proinflammatory cytokines and inhibition of apoptosis. These functions can be studied with the method presented here, which allows detection and quantification of nuclear factors by flow cytometry in isolated nuclei

Neutrophils  are the most abundant leukocytes in peripheral blood. These cells are the first  to appear at sites of inflammation and infection, thus ...

Detection of Fluorescent Nanoparticle Interactions with Primary Immune Cell Subpopulations by Flow Cytometry

Engineered nanoparticles are endowed with very promising properties for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. This work describes a fast and reliable method of analysis by flow cytometry to study nanoparticle interaction with immune cells. Primary immune cells can be easily purified from human or mouse tissues by antibody-mediated magnetic isolation. In the first instance, the different cell populations running in a flow cytometer can be distinguished by the forward-scattered light (FSC), which is proportional to cell size, and the side-scattered light (SSC), related to cell internal complexity. Furthermore, fluorescently labeled antibodies against specific cell surface receptors permit the identification of several subpopulations within the same sample. Often, all these features vary when cells are boosted by external stimuli that change their physiological and morphological state. Here, 50 nm FITC-SiO2 nanoparticles are used as a model to identify the internalization of nanostructured materials in human blood immune cells. The cell fluorescence and side-scattered light increase after incubation with nanoparticles allowed us to define time and concentration dependence of nanoparticle-cell interaction. Moreover, such protocol can be extended to investigate Rhodamine-SiO2 nanoparticle interaction with primary microglia, the central nervous system resident immune cells, isolated from mutant mice that specifically express the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) in the monocyte/macrophage lineage. Finally, flow cytometry data related to nanoparticle internalization into the cells have been confirmed by confocal microscopy.

Analysis of nanoparticle interaction with defined subpopulations of immune cells by flow cytometry.

Engineered nanoparticles are endowed with very promising properties for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. This work describes a fast and reliable ...

Imaging Neutrophils and Monocytes in Mesenteric Veins by Intravital Microscopy on Anaesthetized Mice in Real Time

Efficient immune response is dependent on rapid mobilization of blood leukocytes to the site of infection or injury. Investigating leukocyte migration in vivo is crucial for understanding the molecular basis of leukocyte transendothelial migration and interaction with vascular endothelium. One powerful approach involves intravital microscopy on transgenic mice expressing fluorescent proteins in cells of interest.
Here we present a protocol for imaging monocytes and neutrophils in the CX3CR1gfp/wt mouse i.v. injected with orange dye-labeled neutrophils with an inverted confocal microscope. Time-lapse movies gathered from 30 min&#160;to several hours of imaging allow the analysis of leukocyte behavior in mesenteric veins under both steady state and inflammatory conditions. We also describe the steps to locally induce blood vessel inflammation with TLR2/TLR1 agonist Pam3SK4 and monitor the subsequent recruitment of neutrophils and monocytes.
The presented technique can also be used to monitor other populations of leukocytes and investigate molecules implicated in leukocyte recruitment or trafficking using other stimuli or transgenic mice.

We detail a protocol to monitor the behavior of neutrophils and monocytes in mesenteric veins under steady state and inflammatory conditions using intravital confocal microscopy on anaesthetized mice.

Efficient immune response is dependent on rapid mobilization of blood leukocytes to the site of infection or injury. Investigating leukocyte migration in ...

Genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus by Ribosomal Spacer PCR (RS-PCR)

The ribosomal spacer PCR (RS-PCR) is a highly resolving and robust genotyping method for S. aureus that allows a high throughput at moderate costs and is, therefore, suitable to be used for routine purposes. For best resolution, data evaluation and data management, a miniaturized electrophoresis system is required. Together with such an electrophoresis system and the in-house developed software (freely available here) assignment of the pattern of bands to a genotype is standardized and straight forward. DNA extraction is simple (boiling prep), setting-up of the reactions is easy and they can be run on any standard PCR machine. PCR cycling is common except prolonged ramping and elongation times. Compared to spa typing and Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST), RS-PCR does not require DNA sequencing what simplifies the analysis considerably and allows a high throughput. Furthermore, the resolution for bovine strains of S. aureus is at least as good as spa typing and better than MLST or pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The RS-PCR data base includes presently a total of 141 genotypes and variants. The method is highly associated with the virulence gene pattern, contagiosity and pathogenicity of S. aureus strains involved in bovine mastitis. S. aureus genotype B (GTB) is contagious and causes herds problems causing large costs in the Switzerland and other European countries. All the other genotypes observed in Switzerland infect individual cows and quarters. Genotyping by RS-PCR allows the reliable prediction of the epidemiological and the pathogenic potential of S. aureus involved in bovine intramammary infection (IMI), two key factors for clinical veterinary medicine. Because of these beneficial properties together with moderate costs and a high sample throughput the goal of this publication is to give a detailed, step-by-step protocol for easily establishing and running RS-PCR for genotyping S. aureus in other laboratories.

Genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus by Ribosomal Spacer PCR RS-PCR

Here, ribosomal spacer PCR (RS-PCR) is used together with a miniaturized electrophoresis system as a fast and high resolution method for genotyping S. aureus at moderate costs allowing a high throughput.

The ribosomal spacer PCR (RS-PCR) is a highly resolving and robust genotyping method for S. aureus that allows a high throughput at moderate costs and is, ...

Methodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus

One important feature of the major opportunistic human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is its extraordinary ability to rapidly acquire resistance to antibiotics. Genomic studies reveal that S. aureus carries many virulence and resistance genes located in mobile genetic elements, suggesting that horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays a critical role in S. aureus evolution. However, a full and detailed description of the methodology used to study HGT in S. aureus is still lacking, especially regarding natural transformation, which has been recently reported in this bacterium. This work describes three protocols that are useful for the in vitro investigation of HGT in S. aureus: conjugation, phage transduction, and natural transformation. To this aim, the cfr gene (chloramphenicol/florfenicol resistance), which confers the Phenicols, Lincosamides, Oxazolidinones, Pleuromutilins, and Streptogramin A (PhLOPSA)-resistance phenotype, was used. Understanding the mechanisms through which S. aureus transfers genetic materials to other strains is essential to comprehending the rapid acquisition of resistance and helps to clarify the modes of dissemination reported in surveillance programs or to further predict the spreading mode in the future.

Methodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus

We describe here three different protocols for the in vitro investigation of conjugation, transduction, and natural transformation in Staphylococcus aureus.

One important feature of the major opportunistic human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is its extraordinary ability to rapidly acquire resistance to ...

Time-lapse 3D Imaging of Phagocytosis by Mouse Macrophages

Phagocytosis plays a key role in host defense, as well as in tissue development and maintenance, and involves rapid, receptor-mediated rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton to capture, envelop and engulf large particles. Although phagocytic receptors, downstream signaling pathways, and effectors, such as Rho GTPases, have been identified, the dynamic cytoskeletal remodeling of specific receptor-mediated phagocytic events remain unclear. Four decades ago, two distinct mechanisms of phagocytosis, exemplified by Fc&#947; receptor (Fc&#947;R)- and complement receptor (CR)-mediated phagocytosis, were identified using scanning electron microscopy. Binding of immunoglobulin G (IgG)-opsonized particles to Fc&#947;Rs triggers the protrusion of thin membrane extensions, which initially form a so-called phagocytic cup around the particle before it becomes completely enclosed and retracted into the cell. In contrast, complement opsonized particles appear to sink into the phagocyte following binding to complement receptors. These two modes of phagocytosis, phagocytic cup formation and sinking in, have become well established in the literature. However, the distinctions between the two modes have become blurred by reports that complement receptor-mediated phagocytosis may induce various membrane protrusions. With the availability of high resolution imaging techniques, phagocytosis assays are required that allow real-time 3D (three dimensional) visualization of how specific phagocytic receptors mediate the uptake of individual particles. More commonly used approaches for the study of phagocytosis, such as end-point assays, miss the opportunity to understand what is happening at the interface of particles and phagocytes. Here we describe phagocytic assays, using time-lapse spinning disk confocal microscopy, that allow 3D imaging of single phagocytic events. In addition, we describe assays to unambiguously image Fc&#947; receptor- or complement receptor-mediated phagocytosis.

Here we describe methods using spinning disk confocal microscopy to image single phagocytic events by mouse resident peritoneal macrophages. The protocols can be extended to other phagocytic cells.

Phagocytosis plays a key role in host defense, as well as in tissue development and maintenance, and involves rapid, receptor-mediated rearrangements of ...

A Mouse Model to Assess Innate Immune Response to Staphylococcus aureus Infection

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)&#160;infections, including methicillin resistant stains, are an enormous burden on the healthcare system. With incidence rates of S. aureus infection climbing annually, there is a demand for additional research in its&#160;pathogenicity. Animal models of infectious disease advance our understanding of the host-pathogen response and lead to the development of effective therapeutics. Neutrophils play a primary role in the innate immune response that controls S. aureus infections by forming an abscess to wall off the infection and facilitate bacterial clearance; the number of neutrophils that infiltrate an S. aureus skin infection often correlates with disease outcome. LysM-EGFP mice, which possess the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) inserted in the Lysozyme M (LysM) promoter region (expressed primarily by neutrophils), when used in conjunction with in vivo whole animal fluorescence imaging (FLI) provide&#160;a means of quantifying neutrophil emigration noninvasively and longitudinally into wounded skin. When combined with a bioluminescent S. aureus strain and sequential in vivo whole animal bioluminescent imaging (BLI), it is possible to longitudinally monitor both the neutrophil recruitment dynamics and in vivo bacterial burden at the site of infection in anesthetized mice from onset of infection to resolution or death. Mice are more resistant to a number of virulence factors produced by S. aureus that facilitate effective colonization and infection in humans. Immunodeficient mice provide a more sensitive animal model to examine persistent S. aureus infections and the ability of therapeutics to boost innate immune responses. Herein, we characterize responses in LysM-EGFP mice that have been bred to MyD88-deficient mice (LysM-EGFP&#215;MyD88-/- mice) along with wild-type LysM-EGFP mice to investigate S. aureus skin wound infection. Multispectral simultaneous detection enabled study of neutrophil recruitment dynamics by using in vivo FLI, bacterial burden by using in vivo BLI, and wound healing longitudinally and noninvasively over time.

A Mouse Model to Assess Innate Immune Response to Staphylococcus aureus Infection

An approach is described for real-time detection of the innate immune response to cutaneous wounding and Staphylococcus aureus infection of mice. By comparing LysM-EGFP mice (which possess fluorescent neutrophils) with a LysM-EGFP crossbred immunodeficient mouse strain, we advance our understanding of infection and the development of approaches to combat infection.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)&#160;infections, including methicillin resistant stains, are an enormous burden on the healthcare system. With incidence ...