RTI caused by S aureus worsens stroke outcomes in WT mice. (A) Schematic of experimental design. (B) Left: representative T2 MRI images of the brain (coronal) of 1 mouse of each group on day 2 after reperfusion. The white (demarked by yellow dots) indicates an infarct area. Right: infarct volume quantification (n = 12 mice per group). (C-F) Functional outcomes in the same groups of mice on weeks 1 and 4 after reperfusion (n = 12 mice per group). (C) Modified neurological severity score (mNSS) in the same cohort of mice up to weeks 4 (a higher score indicates a better outcome). (D-F) Sensorimotor recovery in the same cohort of mice was analyzed by motor strength in the accelerated rotarod test (D), hanging wire test (E), and corner test, in which a lower corner index indicates better outcome (F). Data are presented as mean ± SEM for panel B or median and range for panels C-F. Statistical analysis was performed using an unpaired t test for panel B and a 2-way ANOVA followed by the Šidák post hoc test for panels C-F. NS, nonsignificant.