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Vitronectin may mediate staphylococcal adhesion to polymer surfaces in perfusing human cerebrospinal fluid
F Lundberg1, S Schliamser, A Ljungh
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Lund University, Sweden.
Journal of Medical Microbiology
|April 1, 1997
Summary
Vitronectin (Vn) may mediate coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) adhesion to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contacting biomaterials. Heparinized polymers did not significantly alter staphylococcal adhesion in CSF perfusion models.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Prosthetic devices for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage are susceptible to infections.
- Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are primary causative agents of biomaterial-associated infections.
- Understanding bacterial adhesion mechanisms is crucial for preventing device-related infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of vitronectin (Vn) and fibronectin (Fn) in CNS adhesion to biomaterials in CSF.
- To evaluate the effect of heparin-modified polyvinylchloride (PVC) on staphylococcal adhesion under CSF perfusion.
- To determine if bacterial strains from infected biomaterials exhibit altered adhesion properties.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of polyvinylchloride (PVC) and heparinized PVC to human CSF under perfusion.
- Pre-incubation of CNS strains with Vn or Fn to block bacterial binding sites.
- Pre-incubation of biomaterials with antibodies against Vn or Fn.
- Quantification of CNS adhesion to treated biomaterials and polystyrene plates.
Main Results:
- Vitronectin (Vn) significantly reduced adhesion of CNS to Vn-coated surfaces when bacteria were pre-incubated with Vn.
- Antibodies to Vn significantly reduced adhesion of a Vn-binding strain (S. epidermidis 5703) to CSF-exposed PVC.
- No significant difference in Vn or Fn binding was observed between strains from infected and non-infected biomaterials.
- Heparinized PVC showed either reduced or similar staphylococcal adhesion compared to unheparinized PVC under CSF perfusion.
Conclusions:
- Vitronectin (Vn) may play a role in mediating coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) adhesion to biomaterials in the presence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
- Heparin modification of PVC did not consistently reduce staphylococcal adhesion under simulated in vivo CSF perfusion conditions.
- Further research is needed to elucidate specific host-pathogen interactions at the biomaterial-CSF interface to prevent infections.