Biofilm formation in enterococci: Genotype-phenotype correlations and inhibition by vancomycin
Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type
Article
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Series Info
Scientific Reports
7
7
Scientific Journal Rankings
Abstract
Enterococci are nosocomial pathogens that can form biofilms, which contribute to their virulence and antibiotic resistance. Although many genes involved in biofilm formation have been defined, their distribution among enterococci has not been comprehensively studied on a genome scale, and their diagnostic ability to predict biofilm phenotypes is not fully established. Here, we assessed the biofilm-forming ability of 90 enterococcal clinical isolates. Major patterns of virulence gene distribution in enterococcal genomes were identified, and the differentiating virulence genes were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 31 of the clinical isolates. We found that detection of gelE in Enterococcus faecalis is not sufficient to predict gelatinase activity unless fsrAB, or fsrB alone, is PCR-positive (P = 0.0026 and 0.0012, respectively). We also found that agg is significantly enriched in isolates with medium and strong biofilm formation ability (P = 0.0026). Additionally, vancomycin, applied at sub minimal inhibitory concentrations, inhibited biofilm in four out of five strong biofilm-forming isolates. In conclusion, we suggest using agg and fsrB genes, together with the previously established gelE, for better prediction of biofilm strength and gelatinase activity, respectively. Future studies should explore the mechanism of biofilm inhibition by vancomycin and its possible use for antivirulence therapy. � 2017 The Author(s).
Description
Scopus
MSA Google Scholar
MSA Google Scholar
Keywords
October University for Modern Sciences and Arts, جامعة أكتوبر للعلوم الحديثة والآداب, University of Modern Sciences and Arts, MSA University, antiinfective agent, vancomycin, virulence factor, bacterial gene, biofilm, drug effect, Egypt, Enterococcus, genetic association study, genetics, genotype, Gram positive infection, growth, development and aging, hospital, human, isolation and purification, microbiology, physiology, polymerase chain reaction, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Biofilms, Egypt, Enterococcus, Genes, Bacterial, Genetic Association Studies, Genotype, Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections, Hospitals, Humans, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Vancomycin, Virulence Factors