Impact of Staphylococcus aureus colonization and skin abscesses on formation of human anti-αGal antibodies

Abstract

IgG antibodies against terminal galactose-α-1,3-galactose (anti-αGal antibodies) are naturally occurring in humans, but their origins remain poorly understood. These antibodies target various microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus , a common nasal commensal and the major cause of skin abscesses. This study investigates the impact of S. aureus colonization and abscess events on plasma anti-αGal antibody levels. We measured plasma anti-αGal antibody levels using a quantitative immunoassay in: (i) 101 pairs of healthy individuals with and without nasal S. aureus colonization, (ii) 106 healthy individuals before and after abscess formation, and (iii) 43 patients with recurrent skin abscesses compared with 75 patient controls and 60 healthy controls. We observed a 35% reduction (95%CI: 7–54%) in anti-αGal antibody levels in nasal S. aureus carriers. Conversely, we found a 30% increase (95%CI: 4–66%) in individuals within 187 days post-skin abscess, and patients with recurrent skin abscesses exhibited 81% higher (95%CI: 14–190%) levels than patient controls, and 110% higher (95%CI: 39–230%) than healthy controls. This study suggests that skin abscesses lead to elevated plasma anti-αGal antibody levels and that these antibodies might convey or correlate with mucosal immunity to S. aureus .

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