title: Activity of gallidermin on Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms.
abstract: Due to their abilities to form strong biofilms, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis are the most frequently isolated pathogens in persistent and chronic implant-associated infections. As biofilm-embedded bacteria are more resistant to antibiotics and the immune system, they are extremely difficult to treat. Therefore, biofilm-active antibiotics are a major challenge. Here we investigated the effect of the lantibiotic gallidermin on two representative biofilm-forming staphylococcal species. Gallidermin inhibits not only the growth of staphylococci in a dose-dependent manner but also efficiently prevents biofilm formation by both species. The effect on biofilm might be due to repression of biofilm-related targets, such as ica (intercellular adhesin) and atl (major autolysin). However, gallidermin's killing activity on 24-h and 5-day-old biofilms was significantly decreased. A subpopulation of 0.1 to 1.0% of cells survived, comprising "persister" cells of an unknown genetic and physiological state. Like many other antibiotics, gallidermin showed only limited activity on cells within mature biofilms.
authors.affiliation: Microbial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jongkon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saising
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dube
authors.forename: Anne-Kathrin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ziebandt
authors.forename: Supayang Piyawan
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Voravuthikunchai
authors.forename: Mulugeta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nega
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Götz
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D009238:N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001430:Bacteriocins; D010455:Peptides; C057656:gallidermin; D009238:N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase