Mouse model of cutaneous S. aureus infection

All procedures were approved by UCLA Animal Research Committee. The mice were shaved on the back and inoculated subcutaneously with 100 μl of mid logarithmic growth phase S. aureus strain Xen36 (∼1 × 10⁶ CFUs/100 μl = 1:10 dilution of A600 of 0.5/ml) in sterile pharmacy grade saline (0.9%) by a 27-gauge needle and a tuberculin syringe (Abbott Laboratories; Chicago, IL). In one experiment, a subset of WT and Sting^Gt/Gt mice (n = 4–5 mice) was used to confirm bioluminescence results by determining CFU from skin on Day 3.