Use of the quorum-sensing inhibitor RNAIII-inhibiting peptide to prevent biofilm formation in vivo by drug-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis

J Infect Dis. 2003 Feb 15;187(4):625-30. doi: 10.1086/345879. Epub 2003 Feb 7.

Abstract

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a frequent cause of infections associated with foreign bodies and indwelling medical devices. The bacteria are capable of surviving antibiotic treatment through encapsulation into biofilms. RNAIII-inhibiting peptide (RIP) is a heptapeptide that inhibits S. aureus pathogenesis by disrupting quorum-sensing mechanisms. In this study, RIP inhibited drug-resistant S. epidermidis biofilm formation through a mechanism similar to that evidenced for S. aureus. RIP is synergistic with antibiotics in eliminating 100% of graft-associated in vivo S. epidermidis infections, which suggests that RIP may be used to coat medical devices to prevent staphylococcal infections. Disruption of cell-cell communication can prevent infections associated with antibiotic-resistant strains.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacterial Adhesion
  • Bacterial Proteins*
  • Biofilms / growth & development
  • Cell Line
  • Drug Resistance
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology*
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Rats
  • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis / drug effects*
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Oligopeptides
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNAIII inhibiting peptide
  • TRAP protein, Staphylococcus