Investigating Pathogenicity and Virulence of Staphylococcus pettenkoferi: An Emerging Pathogen

Abstract

Staphylococcus pettenkoferi is a coagulase-negative Staphylococcus identified in 2002 that has been implicated in human diseases as an opportunistic pathogenic bacterium. Its multiresistant character is becoming a major health problem, yet the pathogenicity of S. pettenkoferi is poorly characterized. In this study, the pathogenicity of a S. pettenkoferi clinical isolate from diabetic foot osteomyelitis was compared with a Staphylococcus aureus strain in various in vitro and in vivo experiments. Growth kinetics were compared against S. aureus, and bacteria survival was assessed in the RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line, the THP-1 human leukemia monocytic cell line, and the HaCaT human keratinocyte cell line. Ex vivo analysis was performed in whole blood survival assays and in vivo assays via the infection model of zebrafish embryos. Moreover, whole-genome analysis was performed. Our results show that S. pettenkoferi was able to survive in human blood, human keratinocytes, murine macrophages, and human macrophages. S. pettenkoferi demonstrated its virulence by causing substantial embryo mortality in the zebrafish model. Genomic analysis revealed virulence factors such as biofilm-encoding genes (e.g., icaABCD; rsbUVW) and regulator-encoding genes (e.g., agr, mgrA, sarA, saeS) well characterized in S. aureus. This study thus advances the knowledge of this under-investigated pathogen and validates the zebrafish infection model for this bacterium.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Staphylococcus pettenkoferi

“…Biofilm-encoding genes (i.e., icaABCD and rsbUVW) and regulator-encoding genes (i.e., agr, mgrA, sarA, and seaS), also occurring in S. aureus , were identified by the whole-genome analysis of S. pettenkoferi strain. These features confirm a clinical relevance of this bacterium [ 16 ].…”

“…S. pettenkoferi is CoNS, first described in 2002 [ 3 , 10 ]. Since then, there have been several reports describing the involvement of S. pettenkoferi in blood infections and osteomyelitis, mainly in immunocompromised patients or patients with comorbidities, among which diabetes mellitus appears to be the most frequently observed [ 3 , 4 , 9 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. S. pettenkoferi was also isolated from other sources, such as wounds and ulcers, vaginal abscesses, and frontal sinus—in all cases, with other organisms isolated in culture [ 17 ].…”

“…In recent times, more and more researchers are interested in the clinical significance of S. pettenkoferi . Cases of infection have been reported by researchers in various regions of the world [ 16 , 17 , 22 , 26 ]. Pathogenicity and virulence of this bacterium were also studied.…”

Insoluble Fiber in Barley Leaf Attenuates Hyperuricemic Nephropathy by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acids

“…Ruminococcus , the abundance of which decreased in Uox -knockout mice, is also known as a SCFAs-producer [ 22 ]. Staphylococcus is known as a pathogenic microorganism that increases the risk of pathogenic invasion and intestinal inflammation [ 58 ]. In the current study, Staphylococcus showed a significant positive correlation with the kidney injury markers and renal fibrosis biomarkers, indicating that it might play a role in HN progression.…”

Phenotypic and Genotypic Virulence Characterisation of Staphylococcus pettenkoferi Strains Isolated from Human Bloodstream and Diabetic Foot Infections

“…Thus, S. pettenkoferi is notably a frequent bacterium isolated from DFOM, suggesting that it could also be involved in the pathophysiology of these infections [ 26 ]. Recently, our team described the virulence of one clinical strain isolated from this condition and, notably, its ability to proliferate in phagocytes and to persist inside macrophages and its virulence was confirmed in the zebrafish model of infection [ 27 ].…”