Hydrophobin coating prevents Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation on different surfaces

Abstract

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a significant nosocomial pathogen in predisposed hosts because of its capability of forming a biofilm on indwelling medical devices. The initial stage of biofilm formation has a key role in S. epidermidis abiotic surface colonization. Recently, many strategies have been developed to create new anti-biofilm surfaces able to control bacterial adhesion mechanisms. In this work, the self-assembled amphiphilic layers formed by two fungal hydrophobins (Vmh2 and Pac3) have proven to be able to reduce the biofilm formed by different strains of S. epidermidis on polystyrene surfaces. The reduction in the biofilm thickness on the coated surfaces and the preservation of cell vitality have been demonstrated through confocal laser scanning microscope analysis. Moreover, the anti-biofilm efficiency of the self-assembled layers on different medically relevant materials has also been demonstrated using a CDC biofilm reactor.

Antimicrobial Activity of Naturally Occurring Phenols and Derivatives Against Biofilm and Planktonic Bacteria

“…According to the Agency for Health care Research and Quality, hospital-acquired infections are in the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States, and are consequently responsible for nearly 100 thousand deaths per year (Collins, 2008). Several methods to prevent and inhibit biofilm formation have been proposed or implemented to varying degrees of success including chemical and physical modification of surfaces and application of antimicrobial compounds (Chmielewski and Frank, 2003; Cortés et al, 2011; Artini et al, 2017).…”

Applications of Functional Amyloids from Fungi: Surface Modification by Class I Hydrophobins

“…Other examples of medical applications are the development of antibacterial devices [ 42 ] by the fusion of the bacteriocin pediocin PA-1 to HGFI. Furthermore, the layers formed by two fungal hydrophobins (Vmh2 and Pac3 from A. sclerotigenum [ 47 ]) reduce the biofilm formed by different strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis on polystyrene surfaces, without affecting the cell vitality [ 43 ]. Polymeric surfaces with enhanced lubricity and reduced surface friction were obtained using SC3 by Misra and coworkers [ 37 ].…”

Anti-Biofilm Activity of the Fungal Phytotoxin Sphaeropsidin A against Clinical Isolates of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

“…[ 7 , 8 ]. Various studies report strategies to prevent biofilm formation on medical devices such as catheters, sutures, stents and bone cement [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Several researchers are involved in the design and evaluation of specific molecules with potential therapeutic use in chronic and biofilm-related infections [ 13 , 14 ].…”