Only intact S. aureus is able to fully mature dendritic cells.

(A) Intact or lysostaphin lysed UV-inactivated 8325–4 (MOI 6) or LPS (1μg/ml) +/- lysostaphin were subjected to DCs. After 20h of stimulation, IL-12p70, TNF-α and IL-10 levels were detected in the supernatant by ELISA. (B) Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD40, CD80 and CD86 were detected by flow cytometry after maturation of DCs for 20h with intact or lysed 8325–4 in exponential or stationary phase. Means and SD are based on technical replicates. Data represent one experiment out of three. (C) As in B, combination of three experiments. (error bars, SD).