Specific Antibodies to Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Are Present in Serum from Pigs with Osteomyelitis

Abstract

Background: The Achilles heel in osteomyelitis is that bacteria, primarily Staphylococcus aureus, grow as a biofilm in the bone lesions.

Materials and methods: In the present study, we explored the serum level of specific antibodies to S. aurues biofilm in porcine models of osteomyelitis.

Results: Significantly increased levels of antibodies towards the specific biofilm antigen SA0688 were measured in serum from pigs with S. aureus-associated acute and chronic osteomyelitis 5-7 and 10-14 days after inoculation, respectively. Simultaneously with raised antibody levels, an increase in serum interleukin 6 (IL 6) levels was also seen.

Conclusion: The observed biofilm-specific antibody response represents a T-helper cell 17 (Th17) response and potentially a T-helper cell 1 (Th1) response. This is in agreement with previous studies in mice and rabbits speculating that S. aureus induces a Th1- and Th17-biased adaptive immune response, instead of a protective Th2 response, in order to evade the immune system, resulting in a chronic infection.

Keywords: Biofilm; Staphylococcus aurcus; adaptive immunity; osteomyelitis; porcine model.