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Biofilm formation by Propionibacterium acnes is a characteristic of invasive isolates.

Holmberg, Anna LU ; Lood, Rolf LU ; Mörgelin, Matthias LU ; Söderquist, B ; Holst, E ; Collin, Mattias LU orcid ; Christensson, Bertil LU and Rasmussen, Magnus LU orcid (2009) In Clinical Microbiology and Infection 15. p.787-795
Abstract
Clin Microbiol InfectAbstract Propionibacterium acnes is a common and probably underestimated cause of delayed joint prosthesis infection. Bacterial biofilm formation is central in the pathogenesis of infections related to foreign material, and P. acnes has been shown to form biofilm both in vitro and in vivo. Here, biofilm formation by 93 P. acnes isolates, either from invasive infections (n = 45) or from the skin of healthy people (n = 48), was analysed. The majority of isolates from deep infections produced biofilm in a microtitre model of biofilm formation, whereas the skin isolates were poor biofilm producers (p <0.001 for a difference). This indicates a role for biofilm formation in P. acnes virulence. The type distribution, as... (More)
Clin Microbiol InfectAbstract Propionibacterium acnes is a common and probably underestimated cause of delayed joint prosthesis infection. Bacterial biofilm formation is central in the pathogenesis of infections related to foreign material, and P. acnes has been shown to form biofilm both in vitro and in vivo. Here, biofilm formation by 93 P. acnes isolates, either from invasive infections (n = 45) or from the skin of healthy people (n = 48), was analysed. The majority of isolates from deep infections produced biofilm in a microtitre model of biofilm formation, whereas the skin isolates were poor biofilm producers (p <0.001 for a difference). This indicates a role for biofilm formation in P. acnes virulence. The type distribution, as determined by sequencing of recA, was similar among isolates isolated from skin and from deep infections, demonstrating that P. acnes isolates with different genetic backgrounds have pathogenic potential. The biofilm formed on plastic and on bone cement was analysed by scanning electron microscopy (EM) and by transmission EM. The biofilm was seen as a 10-mum-thick layer covering the bacteria and was composed of filamentous as well as more amorphous structures. Interestingly, the presence of human plasma in solution or at the plastic surface inhibits biofilm formation, which could explain why P. acnes primarily infect plasma-poor environments of, for example, joint prostheses and cerebrospinal shunts. This work underlines the importance of biofilm formation in P. acnes pathogenesis, and shows that biofilm formation should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment of invasive P. acnes infections. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Clinical Microbiology and Infection
volume
15
pages
787 - 795
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000269086200015
  • pmid:19392888
  • scopus:69249107383
  • pmid:19392888
ISSN
1469-0691
DOI
10.1111/j.1469-0691.2009.02747.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
4303c8d0-bb07-458d-986a-521f4c039d9f (old id 1391850)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19392888?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 08:56:25
date last changed
2024-10-12 20:28:07
@article{4303c8d0-bb07-458d-986a-521f4c039d9f,
  abstract     = {{Clin Microbiol InfectAbstract Propionibacterium acnes is a common and probably underestimated cause of delayed joint prosthesis infection. Bacterial biofilm formation is central in the pathogenesis of infections related to foreign material, and P. acnes has been shown to form biofilm both in vitro and in vivo. Here, biofilm formation by 93 P. acnes isolates, either from invasive infections (n = 45) or from the skin of healthy people (n = 48), was analysed. The majority of isolates from deep infections produced biofilm in a microtitre model of biofilm formation, whereas the skin isolates were poor biofilm producers (p &lt;0.001 for a difference). This indicates a role for biofilm formation in P. acnes virulence. The type distribution, as determined by sequencing of recA, was similar among isolates isolated from skin and from deep infections, demonstrating that P. acnes isolates with different genetic backgrounds have pathogenic potential. The biofilm formed on plastic and on bone cement was analysed by scanning electron microscopy (EM) and by transmission EM. The biofilm was seen as a 10-mum-thick layer covering the bacteria and was composed of filamentous as well as more amorphous structures. Interestingly, the presence of human plasma in solution or at the plastic surface inhibits biofilm formation, which could explain why P. acnes primarily infect plasma-poor environments of, for example, joint prostheses and cerebrospinal shunts. This work underlines the importance of biofilm formation in P. acnes pathogenesis, and shows that biofilm formation should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment of invasive P. acnes infections.}},
  author       = {{Holmberg, Anna and Lood, Rolf and Mörgelin, Matthias and Söderquist, B and Holst, E and Collin, Mattias and Christensson, Bertil and Rasmussen, Magnus}},
  issn         = {{1469-0691}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{787--795}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Clinical Microbiology and Infection}},
  title        = {{Biofilm formation by Propionibacterium acnes is a characteristic of invasive isolates.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-0691.2009.02747.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1469-0691.2009.02747.x}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}