Use of the Quorum-Sensing Inhibitor RNAIII-Inhibiting Peptide to Prevent Biofilm Formation In Vivo by Drug-Resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 187; no. 4; pp. 625 - 630
• Main Authors: Balaban, Naomi, Giacometti, Andrea, Cirioni, Oscar, Gov, Yael, Ghiselli, Roberto, Mocchegiani, Federico, Viticchi, Claudio, Del Prete, Maria Simona, Saba, Vittorio, Scalise, Giorgio, Dell’Acqua, Giorgio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 15-02-2003; University of Chicago Press; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Animal traps; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Bacteria; Bacterial Adhesion; Bacterial Proteins; Biofilms; Biofilms - growth & development; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line; Drug Resistance; Humans; Infections; Male; Medical sciences; Oligopeptides - pharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phosphoproteins - metabolism; Phosphorylation - drug effects; Rats; Staphylococcal Infections - drug therapy; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Staphylococcus epidermidis - drug effects; Staphylococcus epidermidis - metabolism; Tissue grafting; Peptides; Infection; Prevention; Resistance; In vivo; Antibiotic; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Bacteriosis; Biofilm; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Micrococcaceae; Medical device; Inhibitor; Quorum sensing; Antibacterial agent; Staphylococcal infection
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1086/345879

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a frequent cause of infections associated with foreign bodies and indwelling medical devices. The bacteria are capable of surviving antibiotic treatment through encapsulation into biofilms. RNAIII-inhibiting peptide (RIP) is a heptapeptide that inhibits S. aureus pathogenesis by disrupting quorum-sensing mechanisms. In this study, RIP inhibited drug-resistant S. epidermidis biofilm formation through a mechanism similar to that evidenced for S. aureus. RIP is synergistic with antibiotics in eliminating 100% of graft-associated in vivo S. epidermidis infections, which suggests that RIP may be used to coat medical devices to prevent staphylococcal infections. Disruption of cell-cell communication can prevent infections associated with antibiotic-resistant strains