title: Staphylococcus epidermidis-fibronectin binding and its inhibition by heparin.
abstract: Staphylococcus epidermidis is able to adhere onto biomaterials and to cause implant infections. Recently, host matrix proteins, which in vivo cover the implants, have been indicated as substrates for adhesion by specific bacterial adhesins. Here, the binding of S. epidermidis to fibronectin, a main protein of the extracellular matrix, and the effect of heparin on this interaction were studied by dynamic force spectroscopy (DFS). Novelties are that S. epidermidis strains analysed by DFS were clinical isolates from prosthesis-associated infections, genotyped and phenotyped for their adhesion properties to fibronectin and examined as living cells. Thus, fibronectin-binding staphylococci adhered to the fibronectin-coated substratum and formed a continuous layer assuring their contact with the fibronectin-coated cantilever tip during the approach-retraction cycles of the DFS measurements. Results show that only a single molecular binding site of fibronectin is involved in the interaction with S. epidermidis, that it takes place at the domain near the C-terminus and that it is specifically inhibited by heparin.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory for Biocompatibility on Implant Materials, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Via di Barbiano, 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
authors.forename: Carla Renata
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Arciola
authors.forename: Yasser
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bustanji
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Campoccia
authors.forename: Lucilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baldassarri
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Samorì
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Montanaro
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004548:Elasticity; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000502:physiology*; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D005353:Fibronectins; D006493:Heparin