A patient with diabetes has a history of foot ulcer progressingto infection. Specifically, this is recurrent diabetic footinfection (DFI). That is, despite apparent success of the treatmentthe infection continues to reappear.
The initial diagnosis by the pathology laboratory usesmicrobiological investigation that has identifiedStaphylococcus aureus in this infection. Further simpleanalysis by PCR has revealed the presence of common toxinsassociated with S. aureus infections in the blood, skinand soft tissue and bone.
Describe a research plan you would undertake to identify:
if the recurrence of infection is due to a new infection or thesame bacteria remaining present,
the molecular mechanisms used by this specific S.aureus isolate for its colonization,
the molecular mechanisms for its persistence and recurrent causeof DFI disease.
