AUTHOR=Kaplan Jeffrey B. , Cywes-Bentley Colette , Pier Gerald B. , Yakandawala Nandadeva , Sailer Miloslav , Edwards Marc S. , Kridin Khalaf 

TITLE=Poly-β-(1→6)-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine mediates surface attachment, biofilm formation, and biocide resistance in Cutibacterium acnes

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1386017

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2024.1386017

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>The commensal skin bacterium <italic>Cutibacterium acnes</italic> plays a role in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris and also causes opportunistic infections of implanted medical devices due to its ability to form biofilms on biomaterial surfaces. Poly-<italic>β</italic>-(1→6)-<italic>N</italic>-acetyl-D-glucosamine (PNAG) is an extracellular polysaccharide that mediates biofilm formation and biocide resistance in a wide range of bacterial pathogens. The objective of this study was to determine whether <italic>C. acnes</italic> produces PNAG, and whether PNAG contributes to <italic>C. acnes</italic> biofilm formation and biocide resistance <italic>in vitro</italic>.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>PNAG was detected on the surface of <italic>C. acnes</italic> cells by fluorescence confocal microscopy using the antigen-specific human IgG1 monoclonal antibody F598. PNAG was detected in <italic>C. acnes</italic> biofilms by measuring the ability of the PNAG-specific glycosidase dispersin B to inhibit biofilm formation and sensitize biofilms to biocide killing.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Monoclonal antibody F598 bound to the surface of <italic>C. acnes</italic> cells. Dispersin B inhibited attachment of <italic>C. acnes</italic> cells to polystyrene rods, inhibited biofilm formation by <italic>C. acnes</italic> in glass and polypropylene tubes, and sensitized <italic>C. acnes</italic> biofilms to killing by benzoyl peroxide and tetracycline.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p><italic>C. acnes</italic> produces PNAG, and PNAG contributes to <italic>C. acnes</italic> biofilm formation and biocide resistance <italic>in vitro</italic>. PNAG may play a role in <italic>C. acnes</italic> skin colonization, biocide resistance, and virulence <italic>in vivo</italic>.</p></sec>