Objective:To explore the effect of the virulence factor OatA during Staphylococcus aureus infection.Methods: In vitro,wild type of Staphylococcus aureus USA300,OatA gene deletion strain or OatA gene complemented strain were used to infect mice bone marrow divided macrophages (BMDMs).Subsequently BMDMs were separated and the case of cell death were detected.In vivo,mice pulmonary infection model was constructed with nasal inhalation of Staphylococcus aureus.Alveolar macrophages were isolated and the case of cell death were detected.Results: In contrast to wild type and OatA gene complemented strain,OatA gene deletion strain induced severer macrophage death both in vitro and in vivo.Conclusion: The virulence factor OatA inhibits Staphylococcus aureus infection-induced macrophage death.