Molecular interactions and inhibition of the staphylococcal biofilm-forming protein SdrC

What is it about?

Biofilm communities of bacteria growing on catheters, heart valves and artificial joints avoid being killed by antibiotics and the human immune system, meaning that the removal and replacement of the medical device is usually necessary. This paper reveals that it is possible to prevent communities of staphylococci from forming by targeting the protein linkages that hold the bacteria together in a biofilm. A small blocking peptide directed against the surface protein SdrC stopped S. aureus from attaching to surfaces and from forming cell-cell interactions meaning that the bacteria could not grow as a biofilm.

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Why is it important?

This work shows that it is possible to stop bacteria from building biofilms by using molecules that specifically target proteins attached to the bacterial cell surface. These new findings offer opportunities for the development of novel compounds to prevent or biofilm formation.