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Microbiology and Molecular Biology... Aug 2020In many natural and clinical settings, bacteria are associated with some type of biotic or abiotic surface that enables them to form biofilms, a multicellular lifestyle... (Review)
Review
In many natural and clinical settings, bacteria are associated with some type of biotic or abiotic surface that enables them to form biofilms, a multicellular lifestyle with bacteria embedded in an extracellular matrix. and , the most frequent causes of biofilm-associated infections on indwelling medical devices, can switch between an existence as single free-floating cells and multicellular biofilms. During biofilm formation, cells first attach to a surface and then multiply to form microcolonies. They subsequently produce the extracellular matrix, a hallmark of biofilm formation, which consists of polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular DNA. After biofilm maturation into three-dimensional structures, the biofilm community undergoes a disassembly process that leads to the dissemination of staphylococcal cells. As biofilms are dynamic and complex biological systems, staphylococci have evolved a vast network of regulatory mechanisms to modify and fine-tune biofilm development upon changes in environmental conditions. Thus, biofilm formation is used as a strategy for survival and persistence in the human host and can serve as a reservoir for spreading to new infection sites. Moreover, staphylococcal biofilms provide enhanced resilience toward antibiotics and the immune response and impose remarkable therapeutic challenges in clinics worldwide. This review provides an overview and an updated perspective on staphylococcal biofilms, describing the characteristic features of biofilm formation, the structural and functional properties of the biofilm matrix, and the most important mechanisms involved in the regulation of staphylococcal biofilm formation. Finally, we highlight promising strategies and technologies, including multitargeted or combinational therapies, to eradicate staphylococcal biofilms.
Topics: Bacterial Proteins; Biofilms; Cell Proliferation; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Extracellular Matrix; Humans; Immune Evasion; Phage Therapy; Quorum Sensing; Signal Transduction; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Trans-Activators
PubMed: 32792334
DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.00026-19 -
Nature Reviews. Microbiology Feb 2023The coagulase-negative bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis is a member of the human skin microbiota. S. epidermidis is not merely a passive resident on skin but... (Review)
Review
The coagulase-negative bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis is a member of the human skin microbiota. S. epidermidis is not merely a passive resident on skin but actively primes the cutaneous immune response, maintains skin homeostasis and prevents opportunistic pathogens from causing disease via colonization resistance. However, it is now appreciated that S. epidermidis and its interactions with the host exist on a spectrum of potential pathogenicity derived from its high strain-level heterogeneity. S. epidermidis is the most common cause of implant-associated infections and is a canonical opportunistic biofilm former. Additional emerging evidence suggests that some strains of S. epidermidis may contribute to the pathogenesis of common skin diseases. Here, we highlight new developments in our understanding of S. epidermidis strain diversity, skin colonization dynamics and its multifaceted interactions with the host and other members of the skin microbiota.
Topics: Humans; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Skin; Virulence; Biofilms; Microbiota; Staphylococcal Infections
PubMed: 36042296
DOI: 10.1038/s41579-022-00780-3 -
PLoS Pathogens Nov 2020Our skin is our first line of defense against environmental and pathogenic challenges. It is densely populated by a flora of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that normally... (Review)
Review
Our skin is our first line of defense against environmental and pathogenic challenges. It is densely populated by a flora of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that normally interact with each other and with our immune system to promote skin health and homeostasis. Staphylococcus epidermidis is one of the most abundant bacterial colonizers of healthy human skin. While the field has historically assumed that all S. epidermidis isolates behave similarly, emerging evidence suggests that colonization by specific strains of S. epidermidis can either help or hurt the skin barrier depending on the context. In this short review, we discuss what is currently understood about S. epidermidis strain-level diversity and evaluate costs and benefits of S. epidermidis skin colonization. We challenge the current dogma that "all S. epidermidis strains behave equally" and posit that behavior is in fact highly context and strain dependent. Finally, in light of current proposals to use skin commensals as nonantibiotic treatments for acute or chronic skin diseases, we conclude that more work is urgently needed to fully understand the pathogenic and protective roles of commensals before we use them therapeutically.
Topics: Humans; Skin; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Symbiosis
PubMed: 33180890
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009026 -
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology Sep 2020Rosacea is a complex facial skin condition associated with abnormal inflammation and vascular dysfunction. Next to the known trigger factors, the role of microbiota in... (Review)
Review
Rosacea is a complex facial skin condition associated with abnormal inflammation and vascular dysfunction. Next to the known trigger factors, the role of microbiota in the development and aggravation of rosacea continues to raise interest. Demodex folliculorum mites, Helicobacter pylori, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and the Demodex-associated bacterium, Bacillus oleronius are microbes that have been linked with rosacea. However, the results of studies which assessed their involvement in the disease have been inconsistent and inconclusive. Microbiological research in many different disciplines exploded in recent years as methods to analyze complex microbial communities at the taxonomic and phylogenetic levels became available. Here, we provide an update on the microorganisms implicated in rosacea and review the potential pathogenic role of microbes in the development of rosacea.
Topics: Animals; Bacillus; Chlamydophila pneumoniae; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Microbiota; Mite Infestations; Mites; Rosacea; Skin; Staphylococcus epidermidis
PubMed: 32914214
DOI: 10.1007/s40257-020-00546-8 -
Cell Host & Microbe Mar 2022Previously either regarded as insignificant or feared as potential sources of infection, the bacteria living on our skin are increasingly recognized for their role in...
Previously either regarded as insignificant or feared as potential sources of infection, the bacteria living on our skin are increasingly recognized for their role in benefitting human health. Skin commensals modulate mucosal immune defenses and directly interfere with pathogens; however, their contribution to the skin's physical integrity is less understood. Here, we show that the abundant skin commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis contributes to skin barrier integrity. S. epidermidis secretes a sphingomyelinase that acquires essential nutrients for the bacteria and assists the host in producing ceramides, the main constituent of the epithelial barrier that averts skin dehydration and aging. In mouse models, S. epidermidis significantly increases skin ceramide levels and prevents water loss of damaged skin in a fashion entirely dependent on its sphingomyelinase. Our findings reveal a symbiotic mechanism that demonstrates an important role of the skin microbiota in the maintenance of the skin's protective barrier.
Topics: Animals; Ceramides; Homeostasis; Mice; Skin; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Symbiosis
PubMed: 35123653
DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2022.01.004 -
Cell Host & Microbe Apr 2023Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifactorial, chronic relapsing disease associated with genetic and environmental factors. Among skin microbes, Staphylococcus aureus and...
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifactorial, chronic relapsing disease associated with genetic and environmental factors. Among skin microbes, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis are associated with AD, but how genetic variability and staphylococcal strains shape the disease remains unclear. We investigated the skin microbiome of an AD cohort (n = 54) as part of a prospective natural history study using shotgun metagenomic and whole genome sequencing, which we analyzed alongside publicly available data (n = 473). AD status and global geographical regions exhibited associations with strains and genomic loci of S. aureus and S. epidermidis. In addition, antibiotic prescribing patterns and within-household transmission between siblings shaped colonizing strains. Comparative genomics determined that S. aureus AD strains were enriched in virulence factors, whereas S. epidermidis AD strains varied in genes involved in interspecies interactions and metabolism. In both species, staphylococcal interspecies genetic transfer shaped gene content. These findings reflect the staphylococcal genomic diversity and dynamics associated with AD.
Topics: Humans; Dermatitis, Atopic; Staphylococcus aureus; Prospective Studies; Staphylococcus; Skin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus epidermidis
PubMed: 37054678
DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.03.010 -
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics Jan 2021The number and frequency of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains as a frequent cause of nosocomial infections have increased, especially for , in part due to device-related... (Review)
Review
The number and frequency of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains as a frequent cause of nosocomial infections have increased, especially for , in part due to device-related infections. The transition to antibiotic-resistance in related bacterial genes and the capability for immune escape have increased the sustainability of biofilms produced by these bacteria. The formation and changes in biofilms have been suggested as a target to prevent or treat staphylococcal infections. Thus, this study reviews the development of candidate staphylococcal vaccines by database searching, and evaluates the immunogenicity and efficacy profiles of bacterial components involved in biofilms. The literature suggests that using common staphylococcal vaccine antigens and multivalent vaccines should further enhance vaccine efficacy.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biofilms; Humans; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcal Vaccines; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus epidermidis
PubMed: 32498595
DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2020.1767449 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2022is a bacterium that is part of the human microbiota. It is most abundant on the skin, in the respiratory system and in the human digestive tract. Also, contributes to... (Review)
Review
is a bacterium that is part of the human microbiota. It is most abundant on the skin, in the respiratory system and in the human digestive tract. Also, contributes to human infections and has a high mortality rate. Both of these bacterial species produce biofilm, a pathogenic factor increasing their resistance to antibiotics. For this reason, we are looking for new substances that can neutralize bacterial cells. One of the best-known substances with such effects are silver nanoparticles. They exhibited antibacterial and antibiofilm formation activity that depended on their size, shape and the concentration used. In this review, we presented the data related to the use of silver nanoparticles in counteracting bacterial growth and biofilm formation published in scientific papers between 2017 and 2021. Based on the review of experimental results, the properties of nanoparticles prompt the expansion of research on their activity.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biofilms; Humans; Metal Nanoparticles; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Silver; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus epidermidis
PubMed: 35457115
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084298 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2021Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) ATCC 12228 was incubated with 2% polyethylene glycol (PEG)-8 Laurate to yield electricity which was measured by a voltage...
Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) ATCC 12228 was incubated with 2% polyethylene glycol (PEG)-8 Laurate to yield electricity which was measured by a voltage difference between electrodes. Production of electron was validated by a Ferrozine assay. The anti-Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) activity of electrogenic S. epidermidis was assessed in vitro and in vivo. The voltage change (~ 4.4 mV) reached a peak 60 min after pipetting S. epidermidis plus 2% PEG-8 Laurate onto anodes. The electricity produced by S. epidermidis caused significant growth attenuation and cell lysis of C. acnes. Intradermal injection of C. acnes and S. epidermidis plus PEG-8 Laurate into the mouse ear considerably suppressed the growth of C. acnes. This suppressive effect was noticeably reversed when cyclophilin A of S. epidermidis was inhibited, indicating the essential role of cyclophilin A in electricity production of S. epidermidis against C. acnes. In summary, we demonstrate for the first time that skin S. epidermidis, in the presence of PEG-8 Laurate, can mediate cyclophilin A to elicit an electrical current that has anti-C. acnes effects. Electricity generated by S. epidermidis may confer immediate innate immunity in acne lesions to rein in the overgrowth of C. acnes at the onset of acne vulgaris.
Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Animals; Antibiosis; Bacterial Proteins; Coculture Techniques; Culture Media; Cyclophilin A; Disease Models, Animal; Ear; Electricity; Electrodes; Female; Gene Expression; Laurates; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Polyethylene Glycols; Propionibacteriaceae; Skin; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Surface-Active Agents
PubMed: 34099817
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91398-7 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2023Despite continuing progress in medical and surgical procedures, staphylococci remain the major Gram-positive bacterial pathogens that cause a wide spectrum of diseases,... (Review)
Review
Despite continuing progress in medical and surgical procedures, staphylococci remain the major Gram-positive bacterial pathogens that cause a wide spectrum of diseases, especially in patients requiring the utilization of indwelling catheters and prosthetic devices implanted temporarily or for prolonged periods of time. Within the genus, if and are prevalent species responsible for infections, several coagulase-negative species which are normal components of our microflora also constitute opportunistic pathogens that are able to infect patients. In such a clinical context, staphylococci producing biofilms show an increased resistance to antimicrobials and host immune defenses. Although the biochemical composition of the biofilm matrix has been extensively studied, the regulation of biofilm formation and the factors contributing to its stability and release are currently still being discovered. This review presents and discusses the composition and some regulation elements of biofilm development and describes its clinical importance. Finally, we summarize the numerous and various recent studies that address attempts to destroy an already-formed biofilm within the clinical context as a potential therapeutic strategy to avoid the removal of infected implant material, a critical event for patient convenience and health care costs.
Topics: Humans; Staphylococcus; Biofilms; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biology
PubMed: 36982293
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065218