木犀草素对粪肠球菌毒力因子作用机制的研究

目的探讨木犀草素对粪肠球菌生物被膜的抑制效果,并进一步研究木犀草素对粪肠球菌毒力因子转录表达水平的影响。方法建立粪肠球菌的体外生物被膜模型,5组实验组分别加入浓度为0.5、1、2、4和8mg/mL的木犀草素,同步培养24h后,通过MTT检测各组的抑菌率。利用激光共聚焦显微镜观察不同浓度的木犀草素作用24h后的抑菌效果。最后选取适宜的浓度(2、4、8mg/mL)的木犀草素与粪肠球菌共同培养24h后,通过RT-PCR观察各组粪肠球菌毒力因子gelE、esp、ebpA的转录表达水平。结果 MTT和CLSM结果显示:随着浓度的增加,木犀草素对粪肠球菌生物被膜的抑制效果越来越好(P0.05)。其中以8mg/mL组的抑菌效果最好;浓度为2、4、8mg/mL的木犀草素对其毒力因子gelE、esp、ebpA的mRNA的表达均有较好的抑制作用,并且随着药物浓度的增加木犀草素对其毒力因子的抑制效果也越来越好(P0.05)。当药物浓度为8mg/mL时,可完全抑制gelE、esp、ebpA的mRNA的转录表达。结论木犀草素对粪肠球菌生物被膜有抑制作用,与此同时还能不同程度的抑制其毒力因子gelE、esp、ebpA的转录表达水平。     

耐万古霉素肠球菌与 定植肠球菌的致病基因检测

目的通过对耐万古霉素肠球菌(Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci,VRE)及分离非耐万古霉素肠球菌(Vancomycin-sensitive Enterococci,VSE)致病基因的筛查,了解致病基因分布情况,探索肠球菌致病机制,为日后致病机制的研究提供基线资料。方法收集浙江省人民医院的部分临床患者标本中分离出的VRE,与ICU采集的患者肛周和手臂标本分离的肠球菌属细菌。以PCR方法筛查出ace、asa1、cylA、efaA、esp、gelE和hyl七种致病基因。结果 VRE组esp总体阳性率最高,约占71.4%,其中屎肠球菌中esp最高,约占73.5%,其致病基因携带谱以"esp-hyl"基因组合为主;粪肠球菌全部菌株均携带efaA基因,其致病基因均为三种以上基因组合,以"esp-cyl A-gelE-asa1-efaA"多见。VSE组总体阳性率同样esp最高,约占40.0%;其中屎肠球菌以esp、hyl单个基因携带为主;粪肠球菌以"esp-ace-cylA-gelE-asa1-efaA"最多见。结论两种肠球菌各种致病基因携带率差异较大,两种肠球菌致病机制存在差异,本地区致病基因发挥作用的以esp、hyl为主。     

RNA-Seq探索低水平利奈唑胺耐药粪肠球菌机制

为了探索低水平利奈唑胺耐药粪肠球菌机制,本研究采用Illumina HiSeq 4000高通量转录组测序技术对低水平利奈唑胺耐药粪肠球菌(P10748 MIC:8 mg/L)和利奈唑胺敏感粪肠球菌(3138 MIC:2 mg/L)进行测序及生物信息学分析,以标准菌株ATCC29212作为质量评估参考。利用GO和KEGG数据库对差异表达基因进行注释与富集分析,并利用荧光定量PCR对测序中的差异表达基因进行验证。结果显示,测序共获得了3.57 Gb有效数据,通过De novo拼接获得1 920条unigenes,总长度为2 122 210 bp,平均长度为1 105 bp。差异基因模式聚类分析显示共有150个显著性差异表达基因(FDR≤0.001,|log2 Ratio|≥1),其中141个上调,9个下调。其中生物膜形成和外排泵相关基因esp、optrA、fexA在耐药菌中显著上调。GO功能注释结果显示,催化活性、代谢过程和细胞是注释最多的条目;Pathway富集分析发现,肽聚糖生物合成、缬氨酸亮氨酸和异亮氨酸的降解和硫代谢为显著性富集通路(p<0.05)。荧光定量PCR结果与测序结果基本一致。推测膜转运蛋白和生物膜形成可能在耐药机制中具有重要作用,为低水平利奈唑胺耐药肠球菌机制提供了可参考的耐药靶标。     

氨基糖苷类高水平耐药肠球菌耐药基因的检测与研究

目的 研究氨基糖苷类高水平耐药(high-level aminoglycoside-resistant,HLAR)肠球菌临床株表面蛋白基因(esp)、Ⅰ类整合酶基因(IntI1)、耐氯霉素肠球菌乙酰转移酶基因(cat)等三种耐药基因的流行情况及肠球菌对常见抗菌药物的耐药情况.方法 对53株肠球菌进行菌株鉴定和药敏试验,用PCR法扩增肠球菌esp基因、IntI1基因和cat基因,阳性产物送测序并对序列进行分析.结果 53株HLAR肠球菌中,esp基因阳性率为28.3％,Ⅰ类整合酶基因阳性率为49.1％,没有检测到cat基因.菌株对多种抗菌药物的耐药率为:氨苄西林62.3％、环丙沙星75.5％、红霉素94.3％、高水平庆大霉素75.5％、高水平链霉素73.6％、喹努普汀/达福普汀32.1％、四环素66.0％、万占霉素1.9％、利奈唑胺0.结论 肠球菌对常见抗菌药物存在不同程度的耐药,esp基因和IntI1基因与肠球菌耐药性密切相关.     

粪肠球菌对泰利霉素药物敏感性与 耐药基因erm的分布

目的了解粪肠球菌对泰利霉素和其他常用抗菌药物的耐药性,以及泰利霉素耐药与红霉素耐药相关基因ermA、ermB、ermC之间的关系。方法对本院2010-2016年从各种临床标本收集鉴定的320株粪肠球菌,用微量肉汤稀释法测定这些菌株对泰利霉素及8种临床常用抗菌药物的最小抑菌浓度,并用PCR法检测耐药基因ermA、ermB、ermC的分布。结果320株粪肠球菌对泰利霉素中介耐药26株,耐药138株,耐药率达51.3%;对红霉素耐药率达95.6%,泰利霉素抗粪肠球菌效果优于红霉素。对利奈唑胺、万古霉素、呋喃妥因和氨苄西林耐药率分别为15.6%、0.6%、2.2%和0.6%。共10株(3.1%)携带ermA基因,207株(64.7%)携带ermB基因,对泰利霉素中介组中有23株ermB基因阳性,耐药组有131株ermB基因阳性,仅1株(0.3%)ermC基因阳性,该菌同时携带ermB基因。结论粪肠球菌对泰利霉素已有较高耐药率。粪肠球菌对泰利霉素MIC值改变与ermB基因密切相关,与ermA、ermC基因无明显相关性。     

粪便中肠球菌SYBR GreenI荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

目的利用SYBR GreenI荧光定量PCR方法,建立肠球菌实时荧光PCR检测方法,并初步应用于粪便中肠球菌的检测。方法根据GenBank发表的肠球菌23S rRNA基因序列的保守区域设计合成特异性的引物;利用构建的质粒标准品绘制两种标准曲线,构建基因拷贝数、细菌数为分析指标的定量分析模型并初步应用于粪便标本的检测分析。结果所建立的SYBR GreenI荧光定量PCR方法检测灵敏度可达7个拷贝数/reaction。粪便样本根据实时荧光定量PCR方法所得的理论数值与培养菌值之间差异无显著性(P>0.05)。非炎性腹泻标本中菌数与健康成人标本中菌数差异无显著性(P>0.05)。灵敏度曲线所得的数值大于菌数标准曲线,可能由于DNA提取过程中存在部分的损失。检测粪便标本结果显示SYBR GreenI荧光定量PCR方法较平板计数法敏感、快捷、简便。结论本研究建立了一种灵敏、特异、简便易行的肠球菌定量检测方法。     

BTK在粪肠球菌介导的炎症环境中的 破骨作用

目的在粪肠球菌脂磷壁酸(LTA)作用的炎症环境下,研究布鲁顿酪氨酸激酶(BTK)在破骨细胞中的作用,从而为根尖周炎的治疗提供实验依据。方法 PCR检测粪肠球菌LTA刺激破骨细胞后BTK基因水平的表达情况。以浓度300ng/mL的人重组蛋白BTK(recombinant human BTK,rhBTK)刺激破骨细胞,用CCK8法检测破骨细胞增殖和RT-PCR检测破骨细胞分化标志因子TRAP基因水平表达情况。结果破骨前体细胞5d诱导成功。PCR结果发现粪肠球菌LTA刺激后BTK和TRAP的mRNA表达量明显增高;免疫荧光可见LTA刺激后BTK在破骨细胞中的定位情况;300ng/mL rhBTK组可以促进破骨细胞增殖;PCR结果显示,加入rhBTK后,破骨细胞分化标志因子TRAP的mRNA水平升高。结论在粪肠球菌LTA作用的炎症环境下,BTK表达升高;增高BTK后,可以促进破骨细胞的增殖及分化。研究发现BTK参与了破骨细胞的炎症反应进程。     

铜绿假单胞菌PAO1 ku基因缺失菌株的构建及其对生物被膜耐药性的影响

【背景】铜绿假单胞菌是常见的条件致病菌,易形成生物被膜,具有基因突变率高、耐药性强的特点。非同源末端连接是DNA双链断裂的主要修复途径之一,修复过程会导致DNA突变产生。【目的】研究非同源末端连接对生物被膜中的铜绿假单胞菌基因突变率和耐药性的影响。【方法】通过基因无痕敲除的方法构建PAO1菌株的ku基因缺失突变株Δku并构建其回补株。对比研究突变株和野生菌株生物被膜形成能力、生物被膜状态下各菌的基因突变率以及对抗生素的耐受性。通过荧光定量PCR检测生物被膜中PAO1菌株ku基因的表达水平。【结果】各突变株生物被膜形成能力无显著差异;与野生菌株相比,突变株Δku在生物被膜中的基因突变率以及对环丙沙星和庆大霉素的最低抑菌浓度(minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC)下降。荧光定量PCR结果表明,ku基因在生物被膜形成早期转录水平有明显上调。【结论】非同源末端连接修复途径对生物被膜中的铜绿假单胞菌基因突变率以及耐药性的提高有一定的作用。本研究将为后续进一步阐释铜绿假单胞菌耐药产生机制提供一定的理论依据。     

耐甲氧西林葡萄球菌和肠球菌blaTEM及tetM基因检测

目的了解临床分离的耐甲氧西林葡萄球菌(MRS)和肠球菌中blaTEM及tetM基因存在状况。方法分离50株耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA),7株耐甲氧西林表皮葡萄球菌(MRSE)、5株耐甲氧西林溶血葡萄球菌(MRSH)、15株粪肠球菌和9株屎肠球菌,采用PCR技术检测耐药基因。结果MRSA、MRSE、MRSH、粪肠球菌和屎肠球菌中blaTEM基因阳性率分别为40.0%、57.1%、60.0%、6.7%和88.9%,tetM基因阳性率分别为100%、0%、0%、66.7%、0%。结论blaTEM基因阳性率在MRS中较高,在屎肠球菌中则很高;携带tetM基因是MRSA和粪肠球菌对四环素耐药的主要原因。     

2008年至2010年泌尿系统感染中病原菌的分布及耐药性分析

目的了解泌尿系统感染的病原菌分布及药物耐药性。方法采用法国生物梅里埃公司的VITEK60分析仪对2008年至2010年宁波市妇女儿童医院疑为泌尿系统感染患者的尿液标本进行细菌培养、菌株鉴定,纸片扩散确证试验检测ESBLs。结果 2008年至2010年尿标本中共分离出病原菌1 561株,以大肠埃希菌最多见,占27.2%,其次肺炎克雷伯菌、奇异变形菌、粪肠球菌(D群),各占6.34%、6.28%和6.21%,再次是表皮葡萄球、白色念珠菌和屎肠球菌(D群),各占4.48%、4.36%和3.91%。表皮葡萄球、粪肠球菌(D群)、屎肠球菌(D群)对万古霉素均敏感,对利奈唑烷仅1株粪肠球菌(D群)耐药。3年中,无1例大肠埃希菌对亚胺培南耐药,1株肺炎克雷伯菌和1株奇异变形菌对亚胺培南耐药,其他药物均有不同程度耐药。结论大肠埃希菌是导致泌尿系统感染最常见的致病菌,产ESBLs的菌株已达46.6%。治疗由产ESBLs细菌引起的尿路感染首选亚胺培南和哌拉西林/他唑巴坦;引起尿路感染的革兰阳性菌主要为肠球菌,青霉素可作为治疗粪肠球菌引起的尿路感染,但不适合治疗屎肠球菌引起的尿路感染,耐药率已达95%以上,呋喃妥因、利奈坐烷、万古霉素可作为首选。     

The enterococcal surface protein, Esp, is involved in Enterococcus faecalis biofilm formation

The enterococcal surface protein, Esp, is a high-molecular-weight surface protein of unknown function whose frequency is significantly increased among infection-derived Enterococcus faecalis isolates. In this work, a global structural similarity was found between Bap, a biofilm-associated protein of Staphylococcus aureus, and Esp. Analysis of the relationship between the presence of the Esp-encoding gene (esp) and the biofilm formation capacity in E. faecalis demonstrated that the presence of the esp gene is highly associated (P < 0.0001) with the capacity of E. faecalis to form a biofilm on a polystyrene surface, since 93.5% of the E. faecalis esp-positive isolates were capable of forming a biofilm. Moreover, none of the E. faecalis esp-deficient isolates were biofilm producers. Depending on the E. faecalis isolate, insertional mutagenesis of esp caused either a complete loss of the biofilm formation phenotype or no apparent phenotypic defect. Complementation studies revealed that Esp expression in an E. faecalis esp-deficient strain promoted primary attachment and biofilm formation on polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride plastic from urine collection bags. Together, these results demonstrate that (i) biofilm formation capacity is widespread among clinical E. faecalis isolates, (ii) the biofilm formation capacity is restricted to the E. faecalis strains harboring esp, and (iii) Esp promotes primary attachment and biofilm formation of E. faecalis on abiotic surfaces.     

Relationship between biofilm formation, the enterococcal surface protein (Esp) and gelatinase in clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium

One-hundred and twenty-eight enterococcal isolates were examined for their ability to form biofilm in relation to the presence of the gene encoding the enterococcal surface protein (esp), production of gelatinase and to the source of isolation. Neither esp nor gelatinase seemed to be required for biofilm formation: both Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium did not show a correlation between the presence of either esp or the production of gelatinase and biofilm formation. However, in E. faecium while esp was found in isolates from either source, the presence of both esp and biofilm together was only found in strains from clinical settings, suggesting that there exists a synergy between these factors which serves as an advantage for the process of infection.     

Esp-independent biofilm formation by Enterococcus faecalis

Enterococcus faecalis is a gram-positive opportunistic pathogen known to form biofilms in vitro. In addition, this organism is often isolated from biofilms on the surfaces of various indwelling medical devices. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating biofilm formation in these clinical isolates are largely unknown. Recent work has suggested that a specific cell surface protein (Esp) of E. faecalis is critical for biofilm formation by this organism. However, in the same study, esp-deficient strains of E. faecalis were found to be capable of biofilm formation. To test the hypothesis that Esp is dispensable for biofilm formation by E. faecalis, we used microtiter plate assays and a chemostat-based biofilm fermentor assay to examine biofilm formation by genetically well-defined, non-Esp-expressing strains. Our results demonstrate that in vitro biofilm formation occurs, not only in the absence of esp, but also in the absence of the entire pathogenicity island that harbors the esp coding sequence. Using scanning electron microscopy to evaluate biofilms of E. faecalis OG1RF grown in the fermentor system, biofilm development was observed to progress through multiple stages, including attachment of individual cells to the substratum, microcolony formation, and maturation into complex multilayered structures apparently containing water channels. Microtiter plate biofilm analyses indicated that biofilm formation or maintenance was modulated by environmental conditions. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that expression of a secreted metalloprotease, GelE, enhances biofilm formation by E. faecalis. In summary, E. faecalis forms complex biofilms by a process that is sensitive to environmental conditions and does not require the Esp surface protein.     

Uptake and persistence of human associated Enterococcus in the mussel Mytilus edulis: relevance for faecal pollution source tracking

Aims:  Micro-organisms and molecular markers for microbial source tracking (MST) in coastal waters are often present at low numbers, and often exhibit significant variability in time and space. In this study, we investigated the uptake, accumulation, and persistence of human associated Enterococcus in the mussel Mytilus edulis .
Methods and Results:  The human associated molecular markers esp in Enterococcus faecium , and M66 in Enterococcus faecalis were targetted by PCR in seawater and mussel samples from coastal sites affected by sewage contamination. Both native mussels and mussels transplanted from pristine to polluted sites were included. The results showed that the esp and M66 markers were often not detectable in seawater whereas mussels were enriched in the markers. Human associated E. faecalis accumulated rapidly in M. edulis , and reached maximum levels after 4–6 h with concentration 30–300 times greater than in the surrounding seawater. Enterococcus faecalis retained in M. edulis showed a survival comparable to planktonic E. faecalis in seawater with half lives of 30 and 22 h, respectively. Human associated markers remained detectable for 120 h in M. edulis after faecal contamination.
Conclusions:  The study demonstrated that native and transplanted M. edulis can accumulate and retain human associated molecular markers relevant for MST.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Mussels should be considered as additional targets in MST studies in coastal waters.     

Detection of virulence factors in high-level gentamicin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium isolates from a Tunisian hospital

Phenotypic and genotypic determination of virulence factors were carried out in 46 high-level gentamicin-resistant (HLGR) clinical Enterococcus faecalis (n=34) and Enterococcus faecium (n=12) isolates recovered from different patients in La Rabta Hospital in Tunis, Tunisia, between 2000 and 2003 (all these isolates harboured the aac(6')-aph(2") gene). The genes encoding virulence factors (agg, gelE, ace, cylLLS, esp, cpd, and fsrB) were analysed by PCR and sequencing. The production of gelatinase and hemolysin, the adherence to caco-2 and hep-2 cells, and the capacity for biofilm formation were investigated in all 46 HLGR enterococci. The percentages of E. faecalis isolates harbouring virulence genes were as follows: gelE, cpd, and ace (100%); fsrB (62%); agg (56%); cylLLS (41.2%); and esp (26.5%). The only virulence gene detected among the 12 HLGR E. faecium isolates was esp (58%). Gelatinase activity was detected in 22 of the 34 E. faecalis isolates (65%, most of them with the gelE+-fsrB+ genotype); the remaining 12 isolates were gelatinase-negative (with the gelE+-fsrB- genotype and the deletion of a 23.9 kb fragment of the fsr locus). Overall, 64% of the cylLLS-containing E. faecalis isolates showed beta-hemolysis. A high proportion of our HLGR E. faecalis isolates, in contrast to E. faecium, showed moderate or strong biofilm formation or adherence to caco-2 and hep-2 cells.     

Influence of culture heterogeneity in cell surface charge on adhesion and biofilm formation by Enterococcus faecalis

Biofilm formation is an increasing problem in medicine, due to the intrinsic resistance of microorganisms in the biofilm mode of growth against the host immune system and antimicrobial therapy. Adhesion is an important step in biofilm formation, influenced, among other factors, by the surface hydrophobicities and charges of both the substratum and the adhering microorganisms. Enterococcus faecalis strains generally display subpopulations with different surface charges, expressed as bimodal zeta potential distributions. Two-thirds of E. faecalis strains isolated from clogged biliary stents displayed such heterogeneity of surface charges in culture. In this study, the influence of this culture heterogeneity on initial adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation was investigated. Heterogeneous strains were retained in higher numbers on polystyrene than homogeneous strains. Also, biofilm formation was much more pronounced for heterogeneous strains than for homogeneous strains. In a population enriched to display only one subpopulation, fewer bacteria were retained than in its original heterogeneous culture. Also, the enriched subpopulation formed less biofilm than its original heterogeneous culture. The presence of ox bile during adhesion resulted in fewer retained bacteria, although heterogeneous strains were still retained in significantly higher numbers than were homogeneous strains, and, in general, the presence of ox bile reduced biofilm formation. The initial adhesion and biofilm formation were independent of the presence of the gene encoding the enterococcal surface protein (esp) or the expression of gelatinase (GelE). It is concluded that heterogeneity in cell surface charge represents an advantage for bacteria in the colonization of surfaces.     

Biofilm and planktonic Enterococcus faecalis elicit different responses from host phagocytes in vitro

Enterococcus faecalis is a commensal organism of the gastrointestinal tract but can also cause serious opportunistic infections. In addition to high levels of antibiotic resistance, the ability to form biofilms on abiotic surfaces and on in-dwelling devices within the host complicates treatment strategies and successful outcomes of antibiotic therapy. Despite rapid advances made in recent years in understanding the genomics and virulence of this organism, much remains to be learned regarding the host response to enterococcal infections. In this study, we investigated the interaction of RAW264.7 macrophages and JAWS II dendritic cells with biofilm and planktonic E.?faecalis, in vitro. Specifically, we compared phagocytosis, intracellular survival, secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, and the activation and maturation of phagocytes. Our results revealed that both macrophages and dendritic cells phagocytize biofilm mode cells at levels equal to or better than their planktonic counterparts. Internalized biofilm bacteria showed relatively greater survival at 24?h in macrophages than in dendritic cells and led to slightly higher expression of phagocyte activation markers. Macrophages infected with biofilm cells also secreted lower levels of proinflammatory cytokines studied. Overall, these results suggest that biofilm E.?faecalis may be better adapted to overcome host defenses in vivo.     

Regulation of autolysis-dependent extracellular DNA release by Enterococcus faecalis extracellular proteases influences biofilm development

Enterococci are major contributors of hospital-acquired infections and have emerged as important reservoirs for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance traits. The ability to form biofilms on medical devices is an important aspect of pathogenesis in the hospital environment. The Enterococcus faecalis Fsr quorum system has been shown to regulate biofilm formation through the production of gelatinase, but the mechanism has been hitherto unknown. Here we show that both gelatinase (GelE) and serine protease (SprE) contribute to biofilm formation by E. faecalis and provide clues to how the activity of these proteases governs this developmental process. Confocal imaging of biofilms suggested that GelE(-) mutants were significantly reduced in biofilm biomass compared to the parental strain, whereas the absence of SprE appeared to accelerate the progression of biofilm development. The phenotype observed in a SprE(-) mutant was linked to an observed increase in autolytic rate compared to the parental strain. Culture supernatant analysis and confocal microscopy confirmed the inability of mutants deficient in GelE to release extracellular DNA (eDNA) in planktonic and biofilm cultures, whereas cells deficient in SprE produced significantly more eDNA as a component of the biofilm matrix. DNase I treatment of E. faecalis biofilms reduced the accumulation of biofilm, implying a critical role for eDNA in biofilm development. In conclusion, our data suggest that the interplay of two secreted and coregulated proteases--GelE and SprE--is responsible for regulating autolysis and the release of high-molecular-weight eDNA, a critical component for the development of E. faecalis biofilms.     

Surface charge influences enterococcal prevalence in mixed-species biofilms

AIM: To study the influence of 15 microbial isolates on the prevalence of charge-heterogeneous and charge-homogeneous Enterococcus faecalis strains, all isolated from biliary stents, in mixed-species biofilms. METHODS AND RESULTS: Six Enterococcus faecalis strains were paired with 15 other microbial isolates to form mixed-species biofilms in a microtitre plate assay. Charge-heterogeneous Enterococcus faecalis strains display two subpopulations with different surface charges, expressed as a biomodal zeta potential distribution. It was found that, in general, the prevalence of the charge-heterogeneous, biofilm forming Enterococcus faecalis was reduced in mixed-species biofilms. The prevalence of charge-homogeneous, nonbiofilm-forming Enterococcus faecalis strains was increased only in the presence of Citrobacter freundii BS5126, Stenotrophomonas malthophilia BS937, and Candida lusitaniae BS8256, all of which introduced sizeable charge heterogeneity in the mixed microbial population. CONCLUSIONS: Charge-homogeneous Enterococcus faecalis strains are stimulated to form biofilm only by the presence of another microbial species with a considerably less negative zeta potential, thereby creating a charge-heterogeneous microbial population. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Enterococcus faecalis is one of the predominant species isolated from mixed-species biofilms in clogged biliary stents. The current study shows how charge-homogeneous Enterococcus faecalis strains form more biofilm in the presence of other microbial species.     

A selenium-dependent xanthine dehydrogenase triggers biofilm proliferation in Enterococcus faecalis through oxidant production

Selenium has been shown to be present as a labile cofactor in a small class of molybdenum hydroxylase enzymes in several species of clostridia that specialize in the fermentation of purines and pyrimidines. This labile cofactor is poorly understood, yet recent bioinformatic studies have suggested that Enterococcus faecalis could serve as a model system to better understand the way in which this enzyme cofactor is built and the role of these metalloenzymes in the physiology of the organism. An mRNA that encodes a predicted selenium-dependent molybdenum hydroxylase (SDMH) has also been shown to be specifically increased during the transition from planktonic growth to biofilm growth. Based on these studies, we examined whether this organism produces an SDMH and probed whether selenoproteins may play a role in biofilm physiology. We observed a substantial increase in biofilm density upon the addition of uric acid to cells grown in a defined culture medium, but only when molybdate (Mo) and selenite (Se) were also added. We also observed a significant increase in biofilm density in cells cultured in tryptic soy broth with 1% glucose (TSBG) when selenite was added. In-frame deletion of selD, which encodes selenophosphate synthetase, also blocked biofilm formation that occurred upon addition of selenium. Moreover, mutation in the gene encoding the molybdoenzyme (xdh) prevented the induction of biofilm proliferation upon supplementation with selenium. Tungstate or auranofin addition also blocked this enhanced biofilm density, likely through inhibition of molybdenum or selenium cofactor synthesis. A large protein complex labeled with (75)Se is present in higher concentrations in biofilms than in planktonic cells, and the same complex is formed in TSBG. Xanthine dehydrogenase activity correlates with the presence of this labile selenoprotein complex and is absent in a selD or an xdh mutant. Enhanced biofilm density correlates strongly with higher levels of extracellular peroxide, which is produced upon the addition of selenite to TSBG. Peroxide levels are not increased in either the selD or the xdh mutant upon addition of selenite. Extracellular superoxide production, a phenomenon well established to be linked to clinical isolates, is abolished in both mutant strains. Taken together, these data provide evidence that an SDMH is involved in biofilm formation in Enterococcus faecalis, contributing to oxidant production either directly or alternatively through its involvement in redox-dependent processes linked to oxidant production.