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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Biomimetic Materials to Characterize Bacteria-host Interactions
Published on: November 16, 2015
Bacteriocins Pep5 and epidermin inhibit Staphylococcus epidermidis adhesion to catheters
Mariana Buss Cezar Fontana1, Maria do Carmo Freire de Bastos, Adriano Brandelli
1Departamento de Ciência de Alimentos, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501-970, Porto Alerge, Brazil.
Abstract:
Pep5 and epidermin bacteriocins were tested on clinical strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. aureus isolated from catheter-related infections. These bacteriocins were inhibitory to several isolates at a concentration of 640 activity units mL(-1). The ability of bacteriocins in inhibiting adhesion of S. epidermidis to silicone catheters was evaluated. When Pep5 and epidermin were added to in vitro catheter colonization experiments, there was a significant decrease in the cell number of S. epidermidis adhered to silicone catheters. Bacteriocins used to decrease bacterial attachment to medical devices may represent a novel strategy to control catheter-related infections.
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