Interference with granulocyte function by Staphylococcus epidermidis slime

Abstract

The interaction of Staphylococcus epidermidis slime with human neutrophils (PMN) was examined by using isolated slime and allowing bacteria to elaborate slime and other extracellular products in situ. S. epidermidis slime was found to contain a chemoattractant. Incubation of PMN with 50 ,ug or more of slime per ml inhibited subsequent chemotaxis of the PMN to n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine by 27% and to zymosanactivated serum by 44 to 67% with increasing slime concentrations. S. epidermidis slime stimulated little degranulation of untreated PMN. After pretreatment of PMN with 5 ,ug of cytochalasin b per ml, slime predominantly induced release of specific granule contents (33.8% lactoferrin release by 250 ,ug of slime per ml versus 10% myeloperoxidase release by 250 ,ug of slime per ml). By a surface phagocytosis assay, PMN uptake of radiolabeled S. epidermidis which were incubated for 18 h on a plastic surface for slime expression was less than that for S. epidermidis adhered to the plastic for 2 h or grown in unsupplemented nutrient broth. These results suggest that S. epidermidis slime interaction with PMN may be potentially detrimental to host defense and may contribute to the ability of this organism to persist on surfaces of foreign bodies in the vascular or central nervous system.

Infection at the site of implanted materials with and without preadhered bacteria

“…One feature that has been implicated in infection at the site of biomaterials is the ability of some organisms to adhere to the material. The association of adherence and infection has been inferred but not really confirmed (3,12,16,22,24,32,33). The studies reported here demonstrate a relationship between adherence and infection.…”

Extracellular neutrophil traps in periodontitis

“…The influx of polymorphonuclear neutrophils into the crevice is thought to be the first line of defense against plaque bacteria, whereby the function of polymorphonuclear neutrophils is believed to be exclusively phagocytotic (11,12). The interactions between polymorphonuclear neutrophils and crevicular bacteria are strongly affected by the following factors: (i) the bacteria form biofilm, a circumstance that considerably or completely obstructs the phagocytic and killing functions of neutrophils (18)(19)(20)(21); (ii) the challenge of pocket epithelium by planktonic Background and Objective: Chronic periodontitis, the chronic inflammatory disease of the periodontium, is caused by bacteria and is characterized by an influx of neutrophils into the gingival crevice. Recently, a ÔnewÕ extracellular neutrophil defense mechanism -neutrophil extracellular traps -has been described.…”

The slime of coagulase-negative staphylococci: Biochemistry and relation to adherence

“…In animal and in vitro experiments, crude slime preparations have been reported to interfere with host defence mechanisms [81,82]. However, the results of the studies of Drewry et al [77] and Hussain et al [34] demand the reassessment of the suggested biological properties of slime [44].…”

“…However, the results of the studies of Drewry et al [77] and Hussain et al [34] demand the reassessment of the suggested biological properties of slime [44]. Slime prepared by growing bacteria on complex media solidified with agar has been used in many in vitro and animal studies [81][82][83][84][85][86]. There must now be some doubt about conclusions drawn from experiments with very impure preparations of slime.…”