Biofilm formation and role of other pathogenic factors in the virulence of Staphylococcus epidermidis clinical isolates
Medical device-associated infections represent a significant healthcare challenge, as sterilization of the biomaterial often necessitates device removal. The most frequently isolated microorganism in these infections is Staphylococcus epidermidis, a skin commensal capable of causing a wide range of...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1630341/full |
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| author | María Coronada Fernández-Calderón María Coronada Fernández-Calderón María Coronada Fernández-Calderón Irene Fernández-Babiano Irene Fernández-Babiano María Luisa Navarro-Pérez Carmen Pazos-Pacheco Carmen Pazos-Pacheco Antonia Calvo-Cano Antonia Calvo-Cano Antonia Calvo-Cano |
| author_facet | María Coronada Fernández-Calderón María Coronada Fernández-Calderón María Coronada Fernández-Calderón Irene Fernández-Babiano Irene Fernández-Babiano María Luisa Navarro-Pérez Carmen Pazos-Pacheco Carmen Pazos-Pacheco Antonia Calvo-Cano Antonia Calvo-Cano Antonia Calvo-Cano |
| author_sort | María Coronada Fernández-Calderón |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Medical device-associated infections represent a significant healthcare challenge, as sterilization of the biomaterial often necessitates device removal. The most frequently isolated microorganism in these infections is Staphylococcus epidermidis, a skin commensal capable of causing a wide range of nosocomial infections. The primary virulence factor of S. epidermidis is biofilm formation, which decreases antibiotic efficacy and host immune response. However, additional factors play crucial roles in infection establishment. Understanding the interplay between virulence factors is essential to developing preventive strategies that inhibit microbial adhesion and biofilm development. In this study, we analyzed the presence of genes associated with adhesion and biofilm formation (ica-dependent and ica-independent pathways) in 25 clinical isolates of S. epidermidis and four control strains: ATCC 12228, ATCC 35983, ATCC 35984, and the HAM 892 mutant. Resistance profile was determined, and biofilm quantification and composition of matrix was performed using multiple methodologies. Additionally, parameters associated with initial adherence as cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) were investigated. A strong correlation was observed among different methods for measuring biofilm formation and matrix composition. The 14 icaADBC+ isolates exhibited higher prevalence of the aap, bhp, mecA, and IS256 genes, with polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) identified as the main matrix component. In contrast, icaADBC− biofilm-producing strains formed biofilms rich in other polysaccharides and proteins. The 15 non-biofilm-producing isolates showed significantly higher hydrophobicity levels, suggesting that this factor plays a critical role in initial adhesion and colonization. This study highlights the diverse mechanisms underlying biofilm formation in S. epidermidis and identifies hydrophobicity as a potential pathogenicity factor contributing to its virulence. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-efb71f64852d4bbbb76ea06789994d9d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2235-2988 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-efb71f64852d4bbbb76ea06789994d9d2025-08-20T02:56:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-08-011510.3389/fcimb.2025.16303411630341Biofilm formation and role of other pathogenic factors in the virulence of Staphylococcus epidermidis clinical isolatesMaría Coronada Fernández-Calderón0María Coronada Fernández-Calderón1María Coronada Fernández-Calderón2Irene Fernández-Babiano3Irene Fernández-Babiano4María Luisa Navarro-Pérez5Carmen Pazos-Pacheco6Carmen Pazos-Pacheco7Antonia Calvo-Cano8Antonia Calvo-Cano9Antonia Calvo-Cano10Area of Microbiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, SpainBioengineering Unit. University Institute of Biosanitary Research of Extremadura (INUBE), Badajoz, SpainCentre for Biomedical Research in Network, Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Badajoz, SpainArea of Microbiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, SpainBioengineering Unit. University Institute of Biosanitary Research of Extremadura (INUBE), Badajoz, SpainBioengineering Unit. University Institute of Biosanitary Research of Extremadura (INUBE), Badajoz, SpainBioengineering Unit. University Institute of Biosanitary Research of Extremadura (INUBE), Badajoz, SpainClinical Microbiology Department, San Pedro de Alcántara Hospital, University Hospital Complex of Cáceres, Cáceres, SpainBioengineering Unit. University Institute of Biosanitary Research of Extremadura (INUBE), Badajoz, SpainCentre for Biomedical Research in Network, Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Badajoz, SpainArea of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, SpainMedical device-associated infections represent a significant healthcare challenge, as sterilization of the biomaterial often necessitates device removal. The most frequently isolated microorganism in these infections is Staphylococcus epidermidis, a skin commensal capable of causing a wide range of nosocomial infections. The primary virulence factor of S. epidermidis is biofilm formation, which decreases antibiotic efficacy and host immune response. However, additional factors play crucial roles in infection establishment. Understanding the interplay between virulence factors is essential to developing preventive strategies that inhibit microbial adhesion and biofilm development. In this study, we analyzed the presence of genes associated with adhesion and biofilm formation (ica-dependent and ica-independent pathways) in 25 clinical isolates of S. epidermidis and four control strains: ATCC 12228, ATCC 35983, ATCC 35984, and the HAM 892 mutant. Resistance profile was determined, and biofilm quantification and composition of matrix was performed using multiple methodologies. Additionally, parameters associated with initial adherence as cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) were investigated. A strong correlation was observed among different methods for measuring biofilm formation and matrix composition. The 14 icaADBC+ isolates exhibited higher prevalence of the aap, bhp, mecA, and IS256 genes, with polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) identified as the main matrix component. In contrast, icaADBC− biofilm-producing strains formed biofilms rich in other polysaccharides and proteins. The 15 non-biofilm-producing isolates showed significantly higher hydrophobicity levels, suggesting that this factor plays a critical role in initial adhesion and colonization. This study highlights the diverse mechanisms underlying biofilm formation in S. epidermidis and identifies hydrophobicity as a potential pathogenicity factor contributing to its virulence.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1630341/fullStaphylococcus epidermidispathogenicity factorsadhesionbiofilmhidrophobicitymedical-device infections |
| spellingShingle | María Coronada Fernández-Calderón María Coronada Fernández-Calderón María Coronada Fernández-Calderón Irene Fernández-Babiano Irene Fernández-Babiano María Luisa Navarro-Pérez Carmen Pazos-Pacheco Carmen Pazos-Pacheco Antonia Calvo-Cano Antonia Calvo-Cano Antonia Calvo-Cano Biofilm formation and role of other pathogenic factors in the virulence of Staphylococcus epidermidis clinical isolates Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology Staphylococcus epidermidis pathogenicity factors adhesion biofilm hidrophobicity medical-device infections |
| title | Biofilm formation and role of other pathogenic factors in the virulence of Staphylococcus epidermidis clinical isolates |
| title_full | Biofilm formation and role of other pathogenic factors in the virulence of Staphylococcus epidermidis clinical isolates |
| title_fullStr | Biofilm formation and role of other pathogenic factors in the virulence of Staphylococcus epidermidis clinical isolates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biofilm formation and role of other pathogenic factors in the virulence of Staphylococcus epidermidis clinical isolates |
| title_short | Biofilm formation and role of other pathogenic factors in the virulence of Staphylococcus epidermidis clinical isolates |
| title_sort | biofilm formation and role of other pathogenic factors in the virulence of staphylococcus epidermidis clinical isolates |
| topic | Staphylococcus epidermidis pathogenicity factors adhesion biofilm hidrophobicity medical-device infections |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1630341/full |
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