Purpose of review: There have been recent advances in our understanding of cutaneous immune responses to the important human skin pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). This review will highlight these insights into innate and adaptive immune mechanisms in host defense and cutaneous inflammation in response to S. aureus skin infections.
Recent findings: Antimicrobial peptides, pattern recognition receptors and inflammasome activation function in innate immunity as well as T cells and their effector cytokines play a key role in adaptive immunity against S. aureus skin infections. In addition, certain mechanisms by which S. aureus contributes to aberrant cutaneous inflammation, such as in flares of the inflammatory skin disease atopic dermatitis have also been identified.
Summary: These cutaneous immune mechanisms could provide new targets for future vaccines and immune-based therapies to combat skin infections and cutaneous inflammation caused by S. aureus.
Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; T cells; Toll-like receptors; antimicrobial peptides; inflammasome; neutrophils.