title: Inhibitory effect of the human liver-derived antimicrobial peptide hepcidin 20 on biofilms of polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA)-positive and PIA-negative strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis.
abstract: Staphylococcus epidermidis plays a major role in biofilm-related medical device infections. Herein the anti-biofilm activity of the human liver-derived antimicrobial peptide hepcidin 20 (hep20) was evaluated against polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA)-positive and PIA-negative clinical isolates of S. epidermidis. Hep20 markedly inhibited biofilm formation and bacterial cell metabolism of PIA-positive and PIA-negative strains, but the decrease in biofilm biomass only partially correlated with a decrease in viable bacteria. Confocal microscope images revealed that, in the presence of hep20, both PIA-positive and PIA-negative strains formed biofilms with altered architectures and reduced amounts of extracellular matrix. Co-incubation of hep20 with vancomycin produced no synergistic effect, evaluated as number of viable cells, both in preventing biofilm formation and in treating preformed biofilms. In contrast, biofilms obtained in the presence of hep20, and then exposed to vancomycin, displayed an increased susceptibility to vancomycin. These results suggest that hep20 may inhibit the production/accumulation of biofilm extracellular matrix.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Translational Research and new Technologies in Medicine and Surgery , University of Pisa , via S. Zeno 35-39, 56127 Pisa , Italy.
authors.forename: Franca Lisa
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Brancatisano
authors.forename: Giuseppantonio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maisetta
authors.forename: Mariagrazia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Luca
authors.forename: Semih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esin
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bottai
authors.forename: Ranieri
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bizzarri
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campa
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Batoni
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D064451:Hepcidins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D064451:Hepcidins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C542573:hepcidin (6-25), human; C113579:polysaccharide intercellular adhesin; D014640:Vancomycin