Influence of origin of isolates, especially endocarditis isolates, and various genes on biofilm formation by Enterococcus faecalis

Infect Immun. 2004 Jun;72(6):3658-63. doi: 10.1128/IAI.72.6.3658-3663.2004.

Abstract

Endocarditis isolates of Enterococcus faecalis produced biofilm significantly more often than nonendocarditis isolates, and 39% of 79 versus 6% of 84 isolates produced strong biofilm (P < 0.0001). esp was not required, but its presence was associated with higher amounts of biofilm (P < 0.001). Mutants disrupted in dltA, efaA, ace, lsa, and six two-component regulatory systems were largely unaltered, while disruptions in epa (encoding enterococcal polysaccharide antigen), atn (encoding an autolysin), gelE (encoding gelatinase), and fsr (encoding the E. faecalis regulator) [corrected] resulted in fewer attached bacteria, as determined using phase-contrast microscopy, and less biofilm (P < 0.0001).

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Adhesion
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Biofilms*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / microbiology*
  • Enterococcus faecalis / genetics
  • Enterococcus faecalis / growth & development*
  • Enterococcus faecalis / isolation & purification
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Gelatinases / genetics
  • Gelatinases / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Mutation
  • Polystyrenes

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Polystyrenes
  • enterococcal surface protein, esp
  • Gelatinases