Staphylococcus epidermidis - virulence factors and innate ... - Munin

2. Aims of the thesis
The overall aim for this thesis was to study interactions between S. epidermidis virulence factors
(ACME and biofilm) and the innate immune system in both adults and neonates
Paper I
ACME is proposed as a new virulence factor in S. aureus. However, at the time when the
experiments for Paper I were performed little was known about ACMEs role in S. epidermidis.
We therefore aimed to evaluate the prevalence of ACME allotypes in a large collection of S.
epidermidis blood culture isolates from neonates. Furthermore, we assessed antibiotic resistance
and compared different components of the inflammatory response in ACME-positive and
ACME-negative isolates
Paper II
S. epidermidis is a frequent cause of biofilm associated and often low-grade infections. We aimed
to study how two S. epidermidis biofilms, with different extracellular matrix, modulated innate
immune response, with a particular focus on the complement system.
Paper III
S. epidermidis accounts for more than 50% of the late-onset sepsis episodes in neonates. Data
indicate that the complement system is important in the host defense against S. epidermidis
biofilm associated infections in adults. In this study we aimed to compare the complement and
cytokine response between neonates (cord blood) and adults in an experimental S. epidemidis
biofilm sepsis model.
46