{
  "abstract": "Skin colonization by Staphylococcus aureus has emerged as a common feature of atopic dermatitis and other allergic diseases, yet it remains unclear how this bacterium contributes to inflammation and pathology. Our S. aureus secretome analysis and bioactivity-guided fractionation uncover that the serine protease SspA destroys keratinocyte junctions, increases epidermal permeability, and activates an epithelial inflammatory program linked to barrier dysfunction. SspA and house dust mite extract (HDM), when epicutaneously applied in combination, cause interleukin (IL)-22-dependent atopic dermatitis-like skin disease in mice. Spatial single-cell analysis and immunophenotyping of lesional skin of these mice reveal massive elongation and branching of epidermal nerve fibers and the formation of T cells simultaneously producing IL-13 and IL-22. Chemical denervation and the resultant dismantling of the neuroimmune signaling network reverse the pathology driven by SspA–HDM combination. These findings link S. aureus colonization to barrier perturbation, allergen sensitization, and neurogenic dermatitis.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129",
    "International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan",
    "Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115",
    "Unidad Académica Multidisciplinaria Reynosa Aztlán, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Reynosa, Tamaulipas 88740, Mexico",
    "Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620",
    "Center for Antimicrobial Resistance, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620",
    "Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138",
    "Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 14,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yanek Jiménez-Andrade",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8066-0169"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Stefano Sol",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2576-0156"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Toshimi Yoshida",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7080-6913"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Miles Tran"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Lilah Gmyrek"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kathryn R. Hillette"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Juan A. Vazquez-Mora",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2836-7424"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Juan M. Jiménez-Andrade",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2703-9736"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Lindsey N. Shaw",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0629-8990"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Katia Georgopoulos"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        6,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Anna Mandinova"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Kevin Wei"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ethan A. Lerner",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-5480-4133"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jin Mo Park",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3458-5583"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6shesqvgagb6v.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1073/pnas.2611563123",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13732194/",
  "id": "6shesqvgagb6v",
  "issns": [
    "0027-8424",
    "1091-6490"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2611563123",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "420"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Biological Sciences"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Immunology and Inflammation"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2708|Dermatology and Skin Diseases"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7224128004",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13732194",
  "pmid": "42949958",
  "published": "2026-10-28",
  "publisher": "National Academy of Sciences",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6shesqvgagb6v.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-08T12:22:13Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13732194",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2611563123"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "journal-openalex:1312|Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "The staphylococcal protease SspA perturbs the epidermal barrier and promotes IL-22-driven inflammation in allergen-exposed skin",
  "title_text": "The staphylococcal protease SspA perturbs the epidermal barrier and promotes IL-22-driven inflammation in allergen-exposed skin",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-08T12:22:13Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6shesqvgagb6v",
  "venue": "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America",
  "versions": []
}