Influences of nucleases on biofilm formation and infection
One of the defense functions of neutrophils is the excretion of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs). NETs are formed by extracellular DNA, coated with antimicrobial host defense peptides (HDP). Pathogens are trapped by NETs and killed by HDPs. Bacterial species like S. aureus may escape from the NETs by the expression of nuclease, which can destroy the NETs. In addition, nuclease production by bacteria modulates biofilm formation. The research project will focus on bacterial nuclease production in response to NETs and biofilm formation on biomaterials in presence of neutrophils and NETs. Bacterial biofilm formation is one of the main reasons that Biomaterial Associated Infections are hard to cure. To study this interplay sophisticated co-culture flow systems will be set-up and bio-optical in vivo implant infection animal studies will be performed.
Department: Biomedical Engineering, UMCG
Principal investigator(s): Prof. dr. Henny van der Mei
Publications
Keskin, D., Zu, G., Forson, A. M., Tromp, L., Sjollema, J., & van Rijn, P. (2021). Nanogels: A novel approach in antimicrobial delivery systems and antimicrobial coatings. Bioactive Materials, 6(10), 3634-3657. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2021.03.004
Forson, A. M., van der Mei, H. C., & Sjollema, J. (2020). Impact of solid surface hydrophobicity and micrococcal nuclease production on Staphylococcus aureus Newman biofilms. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 12093. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-69084-x