Pathogenicity Factors of Staphylococcus Pettenkoferi in Foot Wounds and Osteitis in Diabetic Patients

Gram-positive cocci, particularly Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (SCoN), are the bacteria most frequently isolated from diabetic foot ulcers. Although studies have been carried out on the role of S. aureus in the unfavorable evolution of these wounds, no studies have focused on the role of SCoN. Of the fifty or so SCoN species, not all have the same virulence potential. The role of Staphylococcus pettenkoferi is unknown, yet this bacterium is the 7th most frequently identified in diabetic foot ulcers, suggesting that it may also be involved in the pathophysiology of these infections. At Nîmes University Hospital, this bacterium is mainly identified in samples from diabetic foot ulcers or osteitis in our laboratory and 80% of the bacteria present are in biofilms.It is essential to understand the mechanisms governing these bacterial interactions and establish the true pathogenic potential of these bacteria. Recently, the Nîmes team showed that a strain of S. pettenkoferi (SP165) isolated from foot osteitis in a diabetic patient had real virulence potential. SP165 could not only produce biofilm, but could also survive in human blood, human keratinocytes and murine and human macrophages. It also caused significant embryonic mortality in a zebrafish model. A second study of 29 isolates from Nîmes University Hospital subsequently demonstrated that there were two predominant clones with different virulences. Three biofilm production profiles (rapidly and highly biofilm-producing, slowly biofilm-producing and non-biofilm-producing) and two zebrafish profiles (highly and moderately lethal) were reported by phenotypic and genomic analyses on this panel of strains. Genes for resistance, virulence and biofilm production were also found on their genomes.

Gram-positive cocci, in particular Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (SCoN), are the bacteria most frequently isolated from diabetic foot ulcers. While studies have been carried out on the role of S. aureus in the unfavorable evolution of these wounds, no study has focused on the role of SCoN. Of the fifty or so SCoN species, not all have the same virulence potential. The role of Staphylococcus pettenkoferi is not known. Yet this bacterium is the 7th most frequently identified in diabetic foot ulcers, suggesting that it may also be involved in the pathophysiology of these infections. In the work of Loetsche et al. a study of the microbiome of 349 diabetic foot ulcer samples by targeted 16S rDNA sequencing showed that the genus Staphylococcus was the most abundant, with a relative abundance of 22.8%, including 13.3% S. aureus and 5.3% S. pettenkoferi.

At Nîmes University Hospital, this bacterium is mainly identified in samples from diabetic foot ulcers or osteitis in our laboratory (89 isolations of S. pettenkoferi from diabetic foot ulcer samples out of 167 isolations made of this bacterium between 2018 and 2022).The difficulty of managing chronic wounds also lies in the fact that almost 80% of the bacteria present are in biofilms. It has also been established that the environment in which bacteria are found, and in particular the interactions they establish between themselves, play a significant role in delayed wound healing. It is therefore essential to understand the mechanisms governing these bacterial interactions and to establish the true pathogenic potential of these bacteria.

Recently, our team demonstrated that a strain of S. pettenkoferi (SP165) isolated from foot osteitis in a diabetic patient had real virulence potential. As well as being able to produce biofilm, SP165 was able to survive in human blood, human keratinocytes and murine and human macrophages. It also demonstrated its virulence by causing significant embryonic mortality in the zebrafish model.

A second study of 29 isolates from Nîmes University Hospital subsequently demonstrated the existence of two predominant clones with different virulences.

Three biofilm production profiles (rapidly and highly biofilm-producing, slowly biofilm-producing and non-biofilm-producing) and two zebrafish virulence profiles (highly and moderately lethal) were reported by phenotypic and genomic analyses on this panel of strains. Genes for resistance, virulence and biofilm production were also found on their genomes.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Not applicable for this research on a ready-constituted collection of strains of Staphylococcus pettenkoferi

Exclusion Criteria:

* Not applicable for this research on a ready-constituted collection of strains of Staphylococcus pettenkoferi