Contribution of the enterococcal surface protein Esp to pathogenesis of Enterococcus faecium endocarditis

• Published in: Microbes and infection Vol. 13; no. 14; pp. 1185 - 1190
• Main Authors: Heikens, Esther, Singh, Kavindra V., Jacques-Palaz, Karen D., van Luit-Asbroek, Miranda, Oostdijk, Evelien A.N., Bonten, Marc J.M., Murray, Barbara E., Willems, Rob J.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Masson SAS 01-12-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies - immunology; Bacteremia - complications; Bacteremia - immunology; Bacteremia - microbiology; Bacteremia - pathology; Bacterial Adhesion; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Bacteriology; Biofilms; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Western; Colony Count, Microbial; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Endocarditis; Endocarditis - complications; Endocarditis - immunology; Endocarditis - microbiology; Endocarditis - pathology; Endocardium - microbiology; Endocardium - pathology; Enterococcal surface protein Esp; Enterococcus faecium; Enterococcus faecium - genetics; Enterococcus faecium - immunology; Enterococcus faecium - pathogenicity; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Deletion; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections - complications; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections - immunology; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections - pathology; Heart Valves - microbiology; Heart Valves - pathology; Humans; Immunity; Male; Membrane Proteins - genetics; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Pathogenesis; Rats; Enterococcus faecium; Pathogenesis; Immunity; Enterococcal surface protein Esp; Endocarditis; Lactic acid bacteria; Cardiovascular disease; Protein; Streptococcaceae; Heart disease; Endocardial disease; Bacteria; Micrococcales
• ISSN: 1286-4579; 1769-714X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2011.08.006

The enterococcal surface protein Esp, specifically linked to nosocomial
Enterococcus faecium, is involved in biofilm formation. To assess the role of Esp in endocarditis, a biofilm-associated infection, an Esp-expressing
E. faecium strain (E1162) or its Esp-deficient mutant (E1162Δ
esp) were inoculated through a catheter into the left ventricle of rats. After 24 h, less E1162Δ
esp than E1162 were recovered from heart valve vegetations. In addition, anti-Esp antibodies were detected in Esp-positive
E. faecium bacteremia and endocarditis patient sera. In conclusion, Esp contributes to colonization of
E. faecium at the heart valves. Furthermore, systemic infection elicits an Esp-specific antibody response in humans.