Chronic wounds affect approximately 6.5 million patients in the United States and represent $25 billion in annual health care costs. This burden is rapidly increasing due to escalating health care costs, an aging population, and the rising incidence of diabetes and obesity. Studies demonstrate that biofilms contribute to wound chronicity, and that Staphylococcus aureus is a prevalent species found in chronic wound biofilms;however, how biofilms contribute to the delayed re-epithelialization remains unclear. It was recently demonstrated that planktonic S. aureus and S. aureus biofilms have differential lethal effects on keratinocytes (KC). Therefore, it is hypothesized that planktonic S. aureus produce soluble factors that induce KC necrosis;whereas S. aureus biofilms produce soluble factors that mediate specific apoptotic pathways in KC. This hypothesis will be tested by comprehensively investigating KC cultures exposed to either biofilm-conditioned medium or planktonic-conditioned medium for apoptotic characteristics, including phosphatidylserine translocation and DNA fragmentation. Next, KC cultures will also be analyzed for the induction of the intrinsic and/or extrinsic apoptotic pathways. More specific molecular analysis of KC apoptosis will be investigated using a large format quantitative polymerase chain reaction array. Finally, bacterial products produced by S. aureus biofilms will be identified using nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry analysis, and the identified products will be screened to determine if they are apoptosis-inducing factors. The goals of this investigation include identifying the molecular pathways mediated by S. aureus biofilms and the specific bacterial products that induce KC apoptosis. Indentifying clearly defined signaling pathways and apoptosis- inducing bacterial products may provide a molecular rational for future chronic wound therapies and diagnostics, which may have a significant impact on patient health.

Public Health Relevance

The goal of this investigation is to identify how Staphylococcus aureus biofilms kill one type of skin cell: the keratinocyte. This investigation will aid in the development of anti-biofilm therapies for the treatment of chronic wounds. A growing portion of the population is or will be afflicted with the morbidity and mortalit associated with chronic wounds, and even if a fraction of chronic wound cases stem from a microbial biofilm infection, the development of an anti-biofilm therapy would be a significant social contribution.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
5R03AR060995-02
Application #
8496719
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAR1-EHB (M1))
Program Officer
Tseng, Hung H
Project Start
2012-07-01
Project End
2015-06-30
Budget Start
2013-07-01
Budget End
2014-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$68,400
Indirect Cost
$20,900
Name
Montana State University - Bozeman
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
625447982
City
Bozeman
State
MT
Country
United States
Zip Code
59717
Ammons, Mary Cloud B; Morrissey, Kathryn; Tripet, Brian P et al. (2015) Biochemical association of metabolic profile and microbiome in chronic pressure ulcer wounds. PLoS One 10:e0126735
Ammons, Mary Cloud B; Tripet, Brian P; Carlson, Ross P et al. (2014) Quantitative NMR metabolite profiling of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus discriminates between biofilm and planktonic phenotypes. J Proteome Res 13:2973-85
Ammons, M C; CopiƩ, V (2013) Mini-review: Lactoferrin: a bioinspired, anti-biofilm therapeutic. Biofouling 29:443-55