An immunoproteomic approach for characterization of dormancy within Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms.
Virulence of Staphylococcus epidermidis is mainly attributed to surface colonization and biofilm formation in indwelling medical devices. Physiological heterogeneity of biofilms may influence host immune response and sensitivity to antibiotics. Dormant cells, among others, contribute to biofilm heterogeneity. The aim of this study was to identify immunogenic proteins of S. epidermidis biofilms associated with dormancy mechanism, by using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) immunoblotting and mass spectrometry (MS). A total of 19 bacterial proteins, recognized by human serum samples, were identified. These proteins were mainly involved in small molecule metabolic biological processes. Catalytic activity and ion binding were the most representative molecular functions. CodY and GpmA proteins were more reactive to sera when biofilm dormancy was induced, while FtnA and ClpP were more reactive when dormancy was prevented. This is the first work that identifies differences in immunoreactive proteins within bacterial biofilms with induced or prevented dormancy. Considering the importance of dormancy within biofilms, further evaluation of these proteins can provide insights into the mechanisms related to dormancy and help to improve current understanding on how dormancy affects the host immune response.
QOPNA, Mass Spectrometry Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO - Laboratory of Research in Biofilms Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
Virginia
V
Carvalhais
Anatomia Patológica, Centro Hospitalar Baixo-Vouga, Avenida Artur Ravara, 3814-501 Aveiro, Portugal.
Frederico
F
Cerveira
IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Rua do Campo Alegre 83, Porto, Portugal; ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Rua de Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
Manuel
M
Vilanova
CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO - Laboratory of Research in Biofilms Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
Nuno
N
Cerca
QOPNA, Mass Spectrometry Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; iBiMED, Institute for Biomedical Research, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: rvitorino@ua.pt.
Rui
R
Vitorino
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D020543:Proteome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000502:physiology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D020543:Proteome
Dormancy; Immunoproteomics; S. epidermidis biofilm