Hemolysis modulates susceptibility to bacterial infections and predicts poor sepsis outcome. Hemolytic bacteria induce upon infection a reversible fever response from the host that may aid in pathogen clearance. We used high-sensitivity microcalorimetry to measure the evolution of heat production by fever-inducing Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus under isothermal fever conditions, and determined specific aggregation profiles at temperatures equal to or exceeding 38.5℃. We confirmed these results through bacterial incubation at relevant temperatures revealing the presence or absence of hemolysis. We reveal an additional positive role of febrile temperatures in directly contributing to the immune response, through the abolishment of hemolysis.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.