title: Role of the Pre-neck Appendage Protein (Dpo7) from Phage vB_SepiS-phiIPLA7 as an Anti-biofilm Agent in Staphylococcal Species.
abstract: Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus are important causative agents of hospital-acquired infections and bacteremia, likely due to their ability to form biofilms. The production of a dense exopolysaccharide (EPS) matrix enclosing the cells slows the penetration of antibiotic down, resulting in therapy failure. The EPS depolymerase (Dpo7) derived from bacteriophage vB_SepiS-phiIPLA7, was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and characterized. A dose dependent but time independent response was observed after treatment of staphylococcal 24 h-biofilms with Dpo7. Maximum removal (>90%) of biofilm-attached cells was obtained with 0.15 μM of Dpo7 in all polysaccharide producer strains but Dpo7 failed to eliminate polysaccharide-independent biofilm formed by S. aureus V329. Moreover, the pre-treatment of polystyrene surfaces with Dpo7 reduced the biofilm biomass by 53-85% in the 67% of the tested strains. This study supports the use of phage-encoded EPS depolymerases to prevent and disperse staphylococcal biofilms, thereby making bacteria more susceptible to the action of antimicrobials.
authors.affiliation: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias Villaviciosa, Spain.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven Heverlee, Belgium ; Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Ghent University Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Briers
authors.affiliation: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias Villaviciosa, Spain ; Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Rubio
authors.affiliation: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias Villaviciosa, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias Villaviciosa, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lavigne
authors.affiliation: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias Villaviciosa, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: García
keywords: S. aureus; S. epidermidis; biofilm; biofilm matrix; exopolysaccharide depolymerase