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Staphylococcus aureus Growth using Human Hemoglobin as an Iron Source
06:37

Staphylococcus aureus Growth using Human Hemoglobin as an Iron Source

Published on: February 7, 2013

Involvement of iron in biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus

Mei-Hui Lin1, Jwu-Ching Shu, Hsiu-Yun Huang

  • 1Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. thea@mail.cgu.edu.tw

Plos One
|April 6, 2012
PubMed

Insights

1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranose (PGG) inhibits Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation by chelating iron. Restoring iron levels with FeSO(4) reverses this effect, revealing iron

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Medical Science

Background:

  • Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogen that forms biofilms on medical devices.
  • Previous research showed 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranose (PGG) inhibits S. aureus biofilm formation.
  • PGG prevents initial cell attachment and reduces polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) production.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism by which PGG inhibits S. aureus biofilm formation.
  • To determine the role of iron in S. aureus biofilm development.

Main Methods:

  • cDNA microarray and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry to analyze gene and protein expression.
  • Chemical assay using ferrozine to assess iron chelating activity.
  • Biofilm formation assays in the presence and absence of iron and chelating agents.

Main Results:

  • PGG treatment induced gene and protein expression characteristic of iron-limiting conditions.
  • PGG was confirmed as a potent iron chelator, depleting iron from the culture medium.
  • Supplementation with FeSO(4) restored biofilm formation and PIA production in PGG-treated cultures.
  • The iron chelator 2,2'-dipyridyl (2-DP) also inhibited biofilm formation, which was reversed by FeSO(4) addition.

Conclusions:

  • PGG inhibits S. aureus biofilm formation by chelating iron, thereby limiting its availability.
  • Iron is essential for biofilm formation and PIA production in S. aureus SA113.
  • This study elucidates a critical mechanism underlying S. aureus biofilm development.

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