Adhesion of <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i> to a Human Cardiac Cell Line Mediated by Lipoteichoic Acid

Abstract

Objective: Staphylococcus epidermidis is a common cause of endocarditis. This study was carried out to examine the early steps of its pathogenesis, i.e. bacterial adhesion. Methods: Adherence of S. epidermidis to human, bovine and murine endothelial cell lines with and without pretreatment of cell lines with lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and pretreatment of bacteria with polyclonal anti-LTA antibodies, human albumin and lipase was carried out. Results: S. epidermidis binding to human continuous endocardial cell line was ∼3% of the inoculum. This was blocked with LTA (∼65%), polyclonal anti-LTA antibodies (∼50%), human albumin (∼60%) and lipase (∼60–70%). Conclusion: LTA is an important though not the sole adhesin for bacterium host cell receptor interaction in this experimental model.