scholarly journals The Toxin Antitoxin MazEF DrivesStaphylococcus aureusChronic Infection

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongzhu Ma ◽  
Jonathan B. Mandell ◽  
Niles P. Donegan ◽  
Ambrose L. Cheung ◽  
Wanyan Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Chronic Infection ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Antimicrobial Treatment ◽  
Antibiotic Tolerance ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Biofilm Growth ◽  
Increased Risk

AbstractStaphylococcus aureusis the major organism responsible for surgical implant infections. Antimicrobial treatment of these infections often fails leading to expensive surgical intervention and increased risk of mortality to the patient. The challenge in treating these infections is associated with the high tolerance ofS. aureusbiofilm to antibiotics. MazEF, a toxin-antitoxin system, is thought to be an important regulator of this phenotype, but its physiological function inS. aureusis controversial. Here, we examined the role of MazEF in developing chronic infections by comparing growth and antibiotic tolerance phenotypes in threeS. aureusstrains to their corresponding strains with disruption ofmazFexpression. Strains lackingmazFproduction showed increased biofilm growth, and decreased biofilm antibiotic tolerance. Deletion oficaADBCin themazF::tn background suppressed the growth phenotype observed withmazF-disrupted strains, suggesting the phenotype wasica-dependent. We confirmed these phenotypes in our murine animal model. Loss ofmazFresulted in increased bacterial burden and decreased survival rate compared to its wild-type strain demonstrating that loss of themazFgene caused an increase inS. aureusvirulence. Although lack ofmazFgene expression increasedS. aureusvirulence, it was more susceptible to antibioticsin vivo. Combined, the ability ofmazFto inhibit biofilm formation and promote biofilm antibiotic tolerance plays a critical role in transitioning from an acute to chronic infection that is difficult to eradicate with antibiotics alone.ImportanceSurgical infections are one of the most common types of infections obtained in a hospital.Staphylococcus aureusis the most common pathogen associated with this infection. These infections are resilient and difficult to eradicate as the bacteria form a biofilm, a community of bacteria held together by an extracellular matrix. Compared to bacteria floating in liquid, bacteria in a biofilm are more resistant to antibiotics. The mechanism behind how bacteria develop this resistance and establish a chronic infection is unknown. We demonstrate thatmazEF, a toxin-antitoxin gene, inhibits biofilm formation and promotes biofilm antibiotic tolerance which allowsS. aureusto transition from an acute to chronic infection that cannot be eradicated with antibiotics but is less virulent. This gene not only makes the bacteria more tolerant to antibiotics but makes the bacteria more tolerant to the host.

scholarly journals The Toxin-Antitoxin MazEF Drives Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation, Antibiotic Tolerance, and Chronic Infection

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongzhu Ma ◽  
Jonathan B. Mandell ◽  
Niles P. Donegan ◽  
Ambrose L. Cheung ◽  
Wanyan Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Chronic Infection ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Antimicrobial Treatment ◽  
Antibiotic Tolerance ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Increased Risk

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus is the major organism responsible for surgical implant infections. Antimicrobial treatment of these infections often fails, leading to expensive surgical intervention and increased risk of mortality to the patient. The challenge in treating these infections is associated with the high tolerance of S. aureus biofilm to antibiotics. MazEF, a toxin-antitoxin system, is thought to be an important regulator of this phenotype, but its physiological function in S. aureus is controversial. Here, we examined the role of MazEF in developing chronic infections by comparing growth and antibiotic tolerance phenotypes in three S. aureus strains to their corresponding strains with disruption of mazF expression. Strains lacking mazF production showed increased biofilm growth and decreased biofilm antibiotic tolerance. Deletion of icaADBC in the mazF::Tn background suppressed the growth phenotype observed with mazF-disrupted strains, suggesting the phenotype was ica dependent. We confirmed these phenotypes in our murine animal model. Loss of mazF resulted in increased bacterial burden and decreased survival rate of mice compared to its wild-type strain demonstrating that loss of the mazF gene caused an increase in S. aureus virulence. Although lack of mazF gene expression increased S. aureus virulence, it was more susceptible to antibiotics in vivo. Combined, the ability of mazF to inhibit biofilm formation and promote biofilm antibiotic tolerance plays a critical role in transitioning from an acute to chronic infection that is difficult to eradicate with antibiotics alone. IMPORTANCE Surgical infections are one of the most common types of infections encountered in a hospital. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common pathogen associated with this infection. These infections are resilient and difficult to eradicate, as the bacteria form biofilm, a community of bacteria held together by an extracellular matrix. Compared to bacteria that are planktonic, bacteria in a biofilm are more resistant to antibiotics. The mechanism behind how bacteria develop this resistance and establish a chronic infection is unknown. We demonstrate that mazEF, a toxin-antitoxin gene, inhibits biofilm formation and promotes biofilm antibiotic tolerance which allows S. aureus to transition from an acute to chronic infection that cannot be eradicated with antibiotics but is less virulent. This gene not only makes the bacteria more tolerant to antibiotics but makes the bacteria more tolerant to the host.

scholarly journals Entropically driven aggregation of bacteria by host polymers promotes antibiotic tolerance inPseudomonas aeruginosa

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (42) ◽  
pp. 10780-10785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick R. Secor ◽  
Lia A. Michaels ◽  
Anina Ratjen ◽  
Laura K. Jennings ◽  
Pradeep K. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Chronic Infection ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Genotoxic Stress ◽  
Antibiotic Tolerance ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
New Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Bacterial Aggregation

Bacteria causing chronic infections are generally observed living in cell aggregates suspended in polymer-rich host secretions, and bacterial phenotypes induced by aggregated growth may be key factors in chronic infection pathogenesis. Bacterial aggregation is commonly thought of as a consequence of biofilm formation; however the mechanisms producing aggregation in vivo remain unclear. Here we show that polymers that are abundant at chronic infection sites cause bacteria to aggregate by the depletion aggregation mechanism, which does not require biofilm formation functions. Depletion aggregation is mediated by entropic forces between uncharged or like-charged polymers and particles (e.g., bacteria). Our experiments also indicate that depletion aggregation of bacteria induces marked antibiotic tolerance that was dependent on the SOS response, a stress response activated by genotoxic stress. These findings raise the possibility that targeting conditions that promote depletion aggregation or mechanisms of depletion-mediated tolerance could lead to new therapeutic approaches to combat chronic bacterial infections.

Interference ofPseudomonas aeruginosasignalling and biofilm formation for infection control

2010 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Bjarnsholt ◽  
Tim Tolker-Nielsen ◽  
Niels Høiby ◽  
Michael Givskov
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Antibiotic Tolerance ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Major Task ◽  
Vitro Data ◽  
In Vitro Data

Pseudomonas aeruginosais the best described bacterium with regards to quorum sensing (QS), in vitro biofilm formation and the development of antibiotic tolerance. Biofilms composed ofP. aeruginosaare thought to be the underlying cause of many chronic infections, including those in wounds and in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis. In this review, we provide an overview of the molecular mechanisms involved in QS, QS-enabled virulence, biofilm formation and biofilm-enabled antibiotic tolerance. We now have substantial knowledge of the multicellular behaviour ofP. aeruginosain vitro. A major task for the future is to investigate how such in vitro data correlate with the in vivo behaviour ofP. aeruginosa, and how to treat chronic infections of this bacterium in patients.

scholarly journals The antimicrobial peptide TAT-RasGAP317-326 inhibits the formation and the expansion of bacterial biofilms in vitro

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tytti Heinonen ◽  
Simone Hargraves ◽  
Maria Georgieva ◽  
Christian Widmann ◽  
Nicolas Jacquier
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Inhibitory Concentration ◽  
Antimicrobial Treatment ◽  
Bacterial Biofilms ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Planktonic Bacteria ◽  
Further Development

AbstractBiofilms are structured aggregates of bacteria embedded in a self-produced matrix. Pathogenic bacteria can form biofilms on surfaces and in tissues leading to nosocomial and chronic infections. While antibiotics are largely inefficient in limiting biofilm formation and expansion, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are emerging as alternative anti-biofilm treatments. In this study, we explore the effect of the newly described AMP TAT-RasGAP317-326 on Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. We observe that TAT-RasGAP317-326 inhibits the formation of biofilms at concentrations equivalent or two times superior to the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the corresponding planktonic bacteria. Moreover, TAT-RasGAP317-326 limits the expansion of A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa established biofilms at concentrations 2-4 times superior to the MIC. These results further confirm the potential of AMPs against biofilms, expand the antimicrobial potential of TAT-RasGAP317-326 and support further development of this peptide as an alternative antimicrobial treatment.

scholarly journals Aminoglycoside inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation is nutrient dependent

2014 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 861-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle J. Henry-Stanley ◽  
Donavon J. Hess ◽  
Carol L. Wells
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Growth Medium ◽  
Antibiotic Susceptibility ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Nutrient Concentration ◽  
Growth Media ◽  
Biofilm Growth

Biofilms represent microbial communities, encased in a self-produced matrix or extracellular polymeric substance. Microbial biofilms are likely responsible for a large proportion of clinically significant infections and the multicellular nature of biofilm existence has been repeatedly associated with antibiotic resistance. Classical in vitro antibiotic-susceptibility testing utilizes artificial growth media and planktonic microbes, but this method may not account for the variability inherent in environments subject to biofilm growth in vivo. Experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that nutrient concentration can modulate the antibiotic susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. Developing S. aureus biofilms initiated on surgical sutures, and in selected experiments planktonic cultures, were incubated for 16 h in 66 % tryptic soy broth, 0.2 % glucose (1× TSBg), supplemented with bactericidal concentrations of gentamicin, streptomycin, ampicillin or vancomycin. In parallel experiments, antibiotics were added to growth medium diluted one-third (1/3× TSBg) or concentrated threefold (3× TSBg). Following incubation, viable bacteria were enumerated from planktonic cultures or suture sonicates, and biofilm biomass was assayed using spectrophotometry. Interestingly, bactericidal concentrations of gentamicin (5 µg gentamicin ml−1) and streptomycin (32 µg streptomycin ml−1) inhibited biofilm formation in samples incubated in 1/3× or 1× TSBg, but not in samples incubated in 3× TSBg. The nutrient dependence of aminoglycoside susceptibility is not only associated with biofilm formation, as planktonic cultures incubated in 3× TSBg in the presence of gentamicin also showed antibiotic resistance. These findings appeared specific for aminoglycosides because biofilm formation was inhibited in all three growth media supplemented with bactericidal concentrations of the cell wall-active antibiotics, ampicillin and vancomycin. Additional experiments showed that the ability of 3× TSBg to overcome the antibacterial effects of gentamicin was associated with decreased uptake of gentamicin by S. aureus. Uptake is known to be decreased at low pH, and the kinetic change in pH of growth medium from biofilms incubated in 5 µg gentamicin ml−1 in the presence of 3× TSBg was decreased when compared with pH determinations from biofilms formed in 1/3× or 1× TSBg. These studies underscore the importance of environmental factors, including nutrient concentration and pH, on the antibiotic susceptibility of S. aureus planktonic and biofilm bacteria.

scholarly journals Antibiofilm Activity of Phorbaketals from the Marine Sponge Phorbas sp. against Staphylococcus aureus

Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 301
Author(s):  
Yong-Guy Kim ◽  
Jin-Hyung Lee ◽  
Sangbum Lee ◽  
Young-Kyung Lee ◽  
Buyng Su Hwang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reactive Oxygen Species ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Marine Sponge ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Antibiofilm Activity ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Hemolysin Gene

Biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus plays a critical role in the persistence of chronic infections due to its tolerance against antimicrobial agents. Here, we investigated the antibiofilm efficacy of six phorbaketals: phorbaketal A (1), phorbaketal A acetate (2), phorbaketal B (3), phorbaketal B acetate (4), phorbaketal C (5), and phorbaketal C acetate (6), isolated from the Korean marine sponge Phorbas sp. Of these six compounds, 3 and 5 were found to be effective inhibitors of biofilm formation by two S. aureus strains, which included a methicillin-resistant S. aureus. In addition, 3 also inhibited the production of staphyloxanthin, which protects microbes from reactive oxygen species generated by neutrophils and macrophages. Transcriptional analyses showed that 3 and 5 inhibited the expression of the biofilm-related hemolysin gene hla and the nuclease gene nuc1.

scholarly journals Anaerobic Conditions Induce Expression of Polysaccharide Intercellular Adhesin in Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis

2001 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 4079-4085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Cramton ◽  
Martina Ulrich ◽  
Friedrich Götz ◽  
Gerd Döring
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Staphylococcus Epidermidis ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Extracellular Polysaccharide ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions ◽  
Anaerobic Environment ◽  
Specific Mrna

ABSTRACT Products of the intercellular adhesion (ica) operon in Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis synthesize a linear β-1,6-linked glucosaminylglycan. This extracellular polysaccharide mediates bacterial cell-cell adhesion and is required for biofilm formation, which is thought to increase the virulence of both pathogens in association with prosthetic biomedical implants. The environmental signal(s) that triggers ica gene product and polysaccharide expression is unknown. Here we demonstrate that anaerobic in vitro growth conditions lead to increased polysaccharide expression in both S. aureus and S. epidermidis, although the regulation is less stringent inS. epidermidis. Anaerobiosis also dramatically stimulates ica-specific mRNA expression inica- and polysaccharide-positive strains of both S. aureus and S. epidermidis.These data suggest a mechanism whereby ica gene expression and polysaccharide production may act as a virulence factor in an anaerobic environment in vivo.

scholarly journals Expression of icaA and icaD genes in biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from bovine subclinical mastitis

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviane F. Marques ◽  
Huarrisson A. Santos ◽  
Thomas H. Santos ◽  
Dayanne A. Melo ◽  
Shana M.O. Coelho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Phenotypic Expression ◽  
Bovine Mastitis ◽  
Subclinical Mastitis ◽  
Transcriptional Analysis ◽  
Important Species ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Staphylococcus Spp

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus spp. plays a significant role in the etiology of bovine mastitis. Staphylococcus aureus is considered the most important species due to the high prevalence and the difficulty of in vivo treatment that is related to the expression of virulence factors and biofilm formation. This study aimed to detect the phenotypic expression of the biofilm formation in 20 S. aureus isolated from bovine mastitis and to evaluate the expression and regulation of genes involved in its production. MALDI-TOF and phenogenotypic identification assays were performed to characterize the isolates. The phenotypic biofilm production and the presence of icaA and icaD and bap genes were evaluated. The Agr system was typified (agr I, agr II, agr III and agr IV) and its regulator (agr RNAIII) was detected. Furtherly, Real-time PCR (qPCR) was performed at chosen times to quantify the expression of icaA, icaD and hld genes in three selected isolates. All 20 strains were biofilm producers and most presented icaA and icaD genes. Only one isolate presented the bap gene. The agr gene type II showed a prevalence of 70%. Transcriptional analysis revealed increased expression of ica genes at eight hours of growth. These results confirm that polysaccharides production mediated by the icaADBC operon genes is an essential mechanism to the biofilm formation and contributes to the early stages of bacterial growth.

scholarly journals The Pathogenicity and Transcriptome Analysis of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Response to Water Extract of Galla chinensis

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shizhou Wu ◽  
Yunjie Liu ◽  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Lei Lei
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Carbohydrate Metabolism ◽  
Aqueous Extract ◽  
Transcriptome Analysis ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽  
Aqueous Extracts ◽  
Invasive Ability ◽  
Methicillin Resistant

Aim. Antibiotic abuse contributes to the emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It is increasingly important to screen new antimicrobial agents for the management of MRSA infections. G. chinensis, a nontoxic Chinese herbal medicine, is considered a potential antibacterial agent. The aim of this study was to investigate the bactericidal effects of the aqueous extracts of G. chinensis on MRSA. The potential mechanisms of G. chinensis aqueous extract inhibition of the pathogenicity of MRSA in vivo are also discussed. Methods. G. chinensis aqueous extract was prepared and its antimicrobial activities were examined by determining its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Biofilm biomass was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to evaluate differentially expressed functional pathways in MRSA treated with G. chinensis aqueous extract. We validated the role of G. chinensis aqueous extract in the invasive ability and pathogenicity of MRSA in vivo using a rat infectious model. Results. The results indicated that MRSA was sensitive to the G. chinensis aqueous extracts at concentration of 31.25μg/mL. G. chinensis extract led to a reduction in dextran-dependent aggregation and biofilm formation in MRSA. Based on the transcriptome analysis, G. chinensis aqueous extracts significantly downregulated the gene expression related to biofilm formation and carbohydrate metabolism. G. chinensis aqueous extract inhibited the invasive ability and the pathogenicity of MRSA in vivo. Conclusion. The antimicrobial properties of G. chinensis aqueous extract are likely related to its modulation of MRSA biofilm formation and carbohydrate metabolism. G. chinensis aqueous extract is a promising supplementary therapy to lessen or eliminate the use of antibiotics and is a potential tool for the management of MRSA infections.

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