Staphylococcus aureus-induced clotting of plasma is an immune evasion mechanism for persistence within the fibrin network

Recent work has shown that coagulation and innate immunity are tightly interwoven host responses that help eradicate an invading pathogen. Some bacterial species, including Staphylococcus aureus, secrete pro-coagulant factors that, in turn, can modulate these immune reactions. Such mechanisms may no...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microbiology (Society for General Microbiology) 2015-03, Vol.161 (Pt 3), p.621-627
Main Authors: Loof, Torsten G, Goldmann, Oliver, Naudin, Clément, Mörgelin, Matthias, Neumann, Yvonne, Pils, Marina C, Foster, Simon J, Medina, Eva, Herwald, Heiko
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bacterial Proteins - genetics
Bacterial Proteins - metabolism
Blood Coagulation
Coagulase - genetics
Coagulase - metabolism
Fibrin - genetics
Fibrin - metabolism
Humans
Immune Evasion
Mice
Mice, Inbred CBA
Microbial Viability
Staphylococcal Infections - blood
Staphylococcal Infections - immunology
Staphylococcal Infections - microbiology
Staphylococcus aureus - enzymology
Staphylococcus aureus - genetics
Staphylococcus aureus - growth & development
Staphylococcus aureus - immunology
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Summary:Recent work has shown that coagulation and innate immunity are tightly interwoven host responses that help eradicate an invading pathogen. Some bacterial species, including Staphylococcus aureus, secrete pro-coagulant factors that, in turn, can modulate these immune reactions. Such mechanisms may not only protect the micro-organism from a lethal attack, but also promote bacterial proliferation and the establishment of infection. Our data showed that coagulase-positive S. aureus bacteria promoted clotting of plasma which was not seen when a coagulase-deficient mutant strain was used. Furthermore, in vitro studies showed that this ability constituted a mechanism that supported the aggregation, survival and persistence of the micro-organism within the fibrin network. These findings were also confirmed when agglutination and persistence of coagulase-positive S. aureus bacteria at the local focus of infection were studied in a subcutaneous murine infection model. In contrast, the coagulase-deficient S. aureus strain which was not able to induce clotting failed to aggregate and to persist in vivo. In conclusion, our data suggested that coagulase-positive S. aureus have evolved mechanisms that prevent their elimination within a fibrin clot.
ISSN:1350-0872
1465-2080
DOI:10.1099/mic.0.000019