Pathogenesis of Device-Related Infections

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Bacterial infections often accompany biomedical implants and indwelling catheters. These infections are resistant to treatment and they persist and recur until removal of the prosthetic material. The aim of this cross-disciplinary project is to understand the pathophysiology of implant-device related infection, and to develop materials that are tailored to reduce bacterial adhesion and are resistant to infections. Cell-binding protein studies will determine the role of preadsorbed proteins, monoclonal antibodies and receptor-deficient mutants of the infectious agent on staphylococcal adhesion and neutrophil activation. Novel polymers with different physicochemical properties will be synthesized in order to examine how these properties influence staphylococcal and neutrophil adhesion. These studies should aid the development of materials that are resistant to infection, leading to the safer use of implant devices for many surgical applications.