Biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from impetigo and furuncle: role of fibrinogen and fibrin

• Published in: Journal of dermatological science Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 2 - 10
• Main Authors: Akiyama, Hisanori, Ueda, Masumi, Kanzaki, Hiroko, Tada, Joji, Jirô Arata
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.11.1997
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibiotics; Biofilm; Biofilms - growth & development; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Clarithromycin - pharmacology; Coagulase - metabolism; Fibrin; Fibrin - physiology; Fibrinogen; Fibrinogen - physiology; Furunculosis - immunology; Humans; Impetigo - immunology; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microscopy, Electron; Polysaccharides - biosynthesis; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus - enzymology; Staphylococcus aureus - physiology; Tryptophan - analysis; Biofilm; Fibrin; Antibiotics; Staphylococcus aureus; Fibrinogen
• ISSN: 0923-1811; 1873-569X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0923-1811(97)00611-7

The formation of membranous structure (thickness from the plastic tissue-culture coverslip (hematoxylin-eosin) >1 mm; periodic acid-Schiff-positive) was more prominent with Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus) strains isolated from impetigo (coagulase types I·V origin) than with S. aureus strains isolated from furuncle (coagulase type IV origin) ( P<0.05) in the plastic tissue-culture coverslip in human plasma after 72 h. Attachment of S. aureus cells to a plastic tissue-culture coverslip was more marked in 0.3% fibrinogen/tryptic soy broth (TSB) than in plasma ( P<0.05). The formation of the membranous structure was observed on the plastic tissue-culture coverslip with 0.3% fibrinogen/human serum but not with 0.3% fibrinogen+5% glucose/TSB. Electron microscopy revealed abundant fibrin around S. aureus cells at 4 h and Ruthenium red-positive materials increased at 24 and 72 h in plasma. Staphylococcus aureus cell attachment to the plastic tissue-culture coverslip in plasma decreased by addition of levofloxacin (LVFX) at 1/2 minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and clarithromycin (CAM) at 1/4 MIC. Polysaccharide production of S. aureus cells on the plastic tissue-culture coverslip in plasma decreased with the addition of CAM at 1/4 MIC. Fibrinogen is closely related to initiation of infection but biofilm formation requires the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin. Thus, attachment of S. aureus cells to the plastic tissue-culture coverslip, conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin by coagulase-prothrombin complex, and production of abundant glycocalyx by S. aureus cells are at least required for the production of biofilm in staphylococcal skin infection.