The peptidoglycan and biofilm matrix of Staphylococcus epidermidis undergo structural changes when exposed to human platelets

PLoS One. 2019 Jan 25;14(1):e0211132. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211132. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a bacterium frequently isolated from contaminated platelet concentrates (PCs), a blood product used to treat bleeding disorders in transfusion patients. PCs offer an accidental niche for colonization of S. epidermidis by forming biofilms and thus avoiding clearance by immune factors present in this milieu. Using biochemical and microscopy techniques, we investigated the structural changes of the peptidoglycan (PG) and the biofilm matrix of S. epidermidis biofilms formed in whole-blood derived PCs compared to biofilms grown in glucose-supplemented trypticase soy broth (TSBg). Both, the PG and the biofilm matrix are primary mechanisms of defense against environmental stress. Here we show that in PCs, the S. epidermidis biofilm matrix is mainly of a proteinaceous nature with extracellular DNA, in contrast to the predominant polysaccharide nature of the biofilm matrix formed in TSBg cultures. PG profile studies demonstrated that the PG of biofilm cells remodels during PC storage displaying fewer muropeptides variants than those observed in TSBg. The PG muropeptides contain two chemical modifications (amidation and O-acetylation) previously associated with resistance to antimicrobial agents by other staphylococci. Our study highlights two key structural features of S. epidermidis that are remodeled when exposed to human platelets and could be used as targets to reduce septic transfusions events.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biofilms / growth & development*
  • Blood Platelets / metabolism*
  • Blood Platelets / microbiology
  • Blood Platelets / pathology
  • Humans
  • Peptidoglycan / metabolism*
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis / physiology*

Substances

  • Peptidoglycan

Grants and funding

Drs. M. Loza-Correa and M. Taha held a Postdoctoral Fellowship and a Graduate Student Scholarship from Canadian Blood Services, respectively. CONACyT provided additional funding to Dr. M. Loza-Correa for postdoctoral training. Canadian Blood Services and Health Canada provided financial support for this study; however, the views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the Canadian Federal government. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.