Staphylococcus saprophyticus From Clinical and Environmental Origins Have Distinct Biofilm Composition

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Opeyemi U. Lawal
  • Marta Barata
  • Maria J. Fraqueza
  • Peder Worning
  • Bartels, Mette Damkjær
  • Luisa Goncalves
  • Paulo Paixão
  • Elsa Goncalves
  • Cristina Toscano
  • Joanna Empel
  • Malgorzata Urbaś
  • Maria A. Domiìnguez
  • Westh, Henrik T.
  • Hermínia de Lencastre
  • Maria Miragaia

Biofilm formation has been shown to be critical to the success of uropathogens. Although Staphylococcus saprophyticus is a common cause of urinary tract infections, its biofilm production capacity, composition, genetic basis, and origin are poorly understood. We investigated biofilm formation in a large and diverse collection of S. saprophyticus (n = 422). Biofilm matrix composition was assessed in representative strains (n = 63) belonging to two main S. saprophyticus lineages (G and S) recovered from human infection, colonization, and food-related environment using biofilm detachment approach. To identify factors that could be associated with biofilm formation and structure variation, we used a pangenome-wide association study approach. Almost all the isolates (91%; n = 384/422) produced biofilm. Among the 63 representative strains, we identified eight biofilm matrix phenotypes, but the most common were composed of protein or protein–extracellular DNA (eDNA)–polysaccharides (38%, 24/63 each). Biofilms containing protein–eDNA–polysaccharides were linked to lineage G and environmental isolates, whereas protein-based biofilms were produced by lineage S and infection isolates (p < 0.05). Putative biofilm-associated genes, namely, aas, atl, ebpS, uafA, sasF, sasD, sdrH, splE, sdrE, sdrC, sraP, and ica genes, were found with different frequencies (3–100%), but there was no correlation between their presence and biofilm production or matrix types. Notably, icaC_1 was ubiquitous in the collection, while icaR was lineage G-associated, and only four strains carried a complete ica gene cluster (icaADBCR) except one that was without icaR. We provided evidence, using a comparative genomic approach, that the complete icaADBCR cluster was acquired multiple times by S. saprophyticus and originated from other coagulase-negative staphylococci. Overall, the composition of S. saprophyticus biofilms was distinct in environmental and clinical isolates, suggesting that modulation of biofilm structure could be a key step in the pathogenicity of these bacteria. Moreover, biofilm production in S. saprophyticus is ica-independent, and the complete icaADBCR was acquired from other staphylococci.

Original languageEnglish
Article number663768
JournalFrontiers in Microbiology
Volume12
ISSN1664-302X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2021 Lawal, Barata, Fraqueza, Worning, Bartels, Goncalves, Paixão, Goncalves, Toscano, Empel, Urbaś, Domiìnguez, Westh, de Lencastre and Miragaia.

    Research areas

  • biofilm structure, evolution, ica cluster, pan-GWAS, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, urinary tract infection, WGS

ID: 273646450