title: Mucin production by Staphylococcus epidermidis. A virulence factor promoting adherence to vascular grafts.
abstract: The production of an exopolysaccharide (mucin) by some Staphylococcus epidermidis strains facilitates bacterial adhesion to prosthetic vascular grafts and may play an important role in adherence-mediated growth. An in vitro model was developed to measure the differential adherence of mucin-producing (RP-12) and nonmucin-producing (SP-2) S epidermidis strains onto expanded polytef and velour knitted Dacron graft material. After incubation in a 10(7)/mL suspension of organisms, graft specimens were repeatedly washed to remove nonadherent organisms and then sonicated to dislodge adherent organisms. Bacterial adherence was calculated from a quantitative culture of the sonication effluent. Both S epidermidis strains adhered in ten to 100 times greater numbers to the knitted Dacron graft material than to expanded polytef. The production of an exopolysaccharide by the RP-12 strain significantly increased adherence to both graft types compared with the SP-2 strain. The increased adherence of the RP-12 strain was inhibited by adding D-mannosamine to the inoculum. The in vitro model developed is well suited for further study of the mechanisms by which bacteria adhere to and colonize vascular grafts.
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D006595:Hexosamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008954:Models, Biological; D009077:Mucins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D006595:Hexosamines; D009077:Mucins; C008322:mannosamine