Identification and spatiotemporal dynamics of biofilm matrix component proteins in Staphylococcus aureus

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Staphylococcus aureus exhibits a strong capacity to attach to the surface of implanted medical devices and forms multilayered communities of bacteria, called biofilm. S. aureus is a frequent cause of biofilm-associated infections that are a tremendous burden on our healthcare system. Here, we identified and characterized biofilm-matrix proteins which hold cells and contribute to bacterial accumulation in multiple layers. In addition, we found that extracellular serine protease Esp, secreted by a subset of commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis, inhibits nasal colonization of S. aureus via degradation of S. aureus surface proteins and host receptors that are crucial for biofilm formation and host-pathogen interactions. These findings not only provide novel insights into fundamental principles underlying S. aureus biofilm development, but may also indicate a novel direction for therapeutic intervention against biofilm infections.