Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms and Their Response to a Relevant in vivo Iron Source.

ABSTRACT: Biofilm infections can be chronic, life threatening and challenging to eradicate. Understanding in vivo stimuli affecting the biofilm cycle is one step toward targeted prevention strategies. Iron restriction by the host is a stimulus for biofilm formation for some Staphylococcus aureus isolates; however, in some infection scenarios bacteria are exposed to abundant amounts of hemoglobin (Hb), which S. aureus is able to use as iron source. Thus, we hypothesized a role for Hb in the biofilm infection. Microplate "biofilm" assays showed biofilm-matrix production was increased in the presence of hemoglobin when compared to the provision of iron as an inorganic salt. Microscopic analysis of biofilms showed that the provision of iron as hemoglobin consistently caused thicker

SUBMITTER: Dauros-Singorenko P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7779473 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature