IL-1β Promotes Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms on Implants in vivo

Implant associated infections represent a serious health burden in clinics since some microorganisms are able to colonize biological surfaces or surfaces of indwelling medical devices and form biofilms. Biofilms represent communities of microorganisms attached to hydrated surfaces and enclosed in self-produced extracellular matrix. This renders them resistant to exogenous assaults like antibiotics or immune effector mechanisms. Little is known regarding the role of the immune system in the formation of biofilms during implant associated infections, largely due to the lack of suitable mouse models. Here we use colonized osmotic pumps in mice to study the interaction of an activated immune system with biofilm-forming Staphylococcus aureus encoding Gaussia luciferase. This approach permits biofilm formation on the osmotic pumps in living animals. It also allows the continuous supply of soluble immune cell activating agents, such as cytokines to study their effect on biofilm formation in vivo. Using non-invasive imaging of the bioluminescent signal emitted by the lux expressing bacteria for quantification of bacterial load in conjunction with light and electron microscopy, we observed that pump-supplied pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β strongly increased biofilm formation along with a massive influx of neutrophils adjacent to the biofilm-coated pumps. Thus, our data demonstrate that immune defense mechanisms can augment biofilm formation.

Introduction

More than 4.2 million healthcare-associated infections occur every year in European long-term care facilities, of which 40% to 70% are due to indwelling medical devices (1, 2). Depending on the device, the mortality rate can vary from below 5% for devices, such as dental implants, to more than 25% for mechanical heart valves. Since antibiotics treatment alone is ineffective to treat these infections, the only possible treatment is the removal of the infected device followed by application of antibiotics (3).

The inefficacy of antibiotic treatment is due to the formation of biofilms by microorganisms colonizing the surface of the implants. Biofilms are arrangements of microorganisms enclosed in extracellular matrices and attached to hydrated surfaces. Extensive studies have been undertaken to better understand and interfere with the ability of Gram-positive and -negative bacteria to form biofilms (4, 5) These studies identified the effect of quorum sensing i.e., the presence of molecules, receptors as well as signaling cascades (6, 7) that allow the bacteria to monitor their aggregation status and spark biofilm formation in vivo (8–13). In addition, biofilm extracellular matrices have been investigated. These are mainly composed of polysaccharides but also might contain peptides and/or DNA which can determine a biofilms virulence or toxicity (14–16). Biofilms present considerable therapeutic challenges, since these bacteria exhibit altered growth rates, gene expression profiles, and protein synthesis. Embedded in the extracellular matrix, bacteria become resilient to both antibiotics and effector mechanisms of the host's immune system (17–20). These infections are virtually untreatable and completely resistant to present therapies, despite intensive studies to identify some of the mechanisms underlying the inefficacy of antibiotic treatment. For instance, in Salmonella enterica (21, 22) and Escherichia coli (23, 24) biofilm curli amyloids have been identified as the extracellular matrix component that promotes bacterial resistance against antibiotics and immune effectors. To counteract this resistance, potential treatment schedules of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm infections were developed by altering antibiotic administration regimes after real time imaging analysis revealed antibiotic dependent bacterial killing and regrowth kinetics (25).

The formation of biofilms has been considered a defense mechanism against environmental and immune effector mechanisms. For instance, it has been shown that Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium produce biofilms when prompted by nutrient starvation or oxygen tension (26). Similarly, in a mouse model, S. Typhimurium forms biofilms when colonizing tumors. These structures were absent in animals when neutrophils were depleted (27, 28).

Staphylococcus aureus is a highly relevant bacterium associated with implant infections. It is a Gram-positive bacterium responsible for the majority of skin and soft tissue infections in humans. Although S. aureus infections usually originate in the skin, invasive and frequently life-threatening infections are common consequences in implant associated infections. In addition, many community and hospital acquired S. aureus infections are complicated by virulent methicillin and multidrug-resistant strains. Although S. aureus are often found to colonize medical devices and form biofilms in vivo little is known on the role of the immune system in the formation of S. aureus implant-associated biofilms (29–31). However, for the rational design of treatment strategies, this would be an essential asset.

Several groups have tested the reactions of the immune system to bacterial biofilms using mouse models of subcutaneously implanted catheters. In the case of S. epidermidis biofilms increased expression of the immune activating cytokines TNFα, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1β, and IFNγ in tissues surrounding the colonized inserts have been reported (32, 33). Surprisingly, IL-1β could be shown to support survival of the bacteria under these conditions.

In contrast, S. aureus biofilms located inside catheters often result in downregulation of IL-1β by macrophages (34). Functional changes in macrophages and neutrophils have also been reported in this model including shifts from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory macrophages located near S. aureus biofilms and recruitment of neutrophils which exhibit severely reduced chemotaxis and increased production of oxygen radicals (35, 36). This phenotype was associated with persistence of S. aureus biofilms.

Based on these findings, we put forward the hypothesis that the in vivo development of biofilms by these bacteria depend on intrinsic propensities of the immune system. To test this hypothesis, we developed a novel mouse model to study the interaction of an activated immune system with biofilm-forming S. aureus. This model is based on implanting C57Bl/6 mice subcutaneously with osmotic pumps colonized by Staphylococcus aureus Xen29. The osmotic pumps allow the continuous release of immune modulating substances that help to address their effect on the formation of biofilms. Using this model we observed that the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β, promotes early spread of S. aureus on the surface of the implants as well as increased colonization of other organs. Furthermore, we observed that recruitment of neutrophils to the implant area provided protection against early bacterial colonization of peri-implant tissues.

Materials and Methods

Strains and Growth Media

Staphylococcus aureus Xen29 (Perkin Elmer, GenBank accession L36472.1) bacteria were streaked onto Blood agar (BA) plates [premixed blood agar medium powder (Oxoid), water, sheep's blood (Oxoid)] and grown overnight (16 h) at 37°C in a bacterial incubator. Single colonies were picked and cultured in Trypticase soy broth (TSB) at 37°C in a shaking incubator (240 rpm) overnight, followed by a 1:20 subculture at 37°C overnight to obtain midlogarithmic phase bacteria. OD600 was measured to estimate the number of colony forming units (CFU), which was verified after overnight culture on BA plates.

Animal Model

Eight- to twelve-week-old female C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to experimental groups for use in all experiments. The mice were obtained from Envigo (Germany) and were single housed and maintained under pathogen-free conditions. All experiments were conducted in accordance with the local animal welfare regulations reviewed by the institutional review board and the Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit (LAVES) under the permission number 14–1567.

In vitro Bacterial Device Colonization

Osmotic pumps (ALZET 1007D) were sterilized with 70% ethanol and air dried before colonization. Bacterial colonization was established on the pumps by incubating them in tubes containing 5.0 ml of a S. aureus cell suspension (10⁸ CFU/ml) in TSB in the phase of exponential growth. After incubation for 24 h at 37°C, colonized pumps were recovered with sterile forceps and rinsed once with TSB to remove unbound bacteria. Pumps where then filled with 100 μl of one of the following substances: IL-1β (83 μg/ml) (37), IL-6 (83 μg/ml) (38, 39), IL-10 (166 μg/ml) (40), IL-12 (83 μg/ml) (41), IL-17 (125 μg/ml) (42), IL-23 (166 μg/ml) (43), IFNγ (83 μg/ml) (44), TNFα (166 μg/ml) (45), anti-TGF-β1 (166 μg/ml) (46, 47), anti-IL-1β (150 μg/ml) (48), or PBS. All the concentrations of cytokines and antibodies used were based on values found in the literature.

Implantation of Colonized Pumps

Mice were anesthetized by injection of Ketamin (50 mg/kg body weight) and Xylazin (10 mg/kg body weight), before a skin incision was made between the shoulder blades, and an osmotic pump was implanted in the subcutaneous space. The wound was closed with surgical staples. Mice (n = 6 mice per experimental condition) were monitored at least every other day for the duration of the experiments.

Neutrophil Depletion

Mice were given intraperitoneal injections of 100 μg of anti-Gr-1 mAb (clone RB6-8C5) 1 day before pump implantation and on every third day thereafter. PBS injections were administered to control mice.

In vivo Bioluminescent Imaging

In vivo bioluminescent imaging was performed on anesthetized mice (2% isoflurane) using a Spectrum CT IVIS in vivo imaging system. Briefly, photons emitted from S. aureus Xen29 were collected during a 30-s exposure using the IVIS Imaging System. Bioluminescent images were displayed using a pseudocolor scale (blue representing the least-intense light and red representing the most-intense light) that was overlaid on a gray-scale image to generate a two-dimensional picture of the distribution of bioluminescent bacteria in the animal. The acquired image data were saved as two-dimensional arrays containing values corresponding to the number of photons contained within each pixel as measured within a region of interest using Living Image software. The bioluminescent signals detected from the pump implanted site were measured and correlate to the actual bacterial load measured by the ex vivo CFU on the pumps.

Ex vivo CFU Counting

Mice were killed on day 12 post-infection, and the heart, liver, spleen and draining lymph nodes, as well as the osmotic pumps, were harvested. Bacterial CFU were isolated by homogenizing the tissue in PBS on ice or in the case of the osmotic pumps, sonicated (JP-890, Skymen) for 30 min in PBS at a frequency of 40 kHz. We did not observe any influence of this procedure in the viability of the bacterial cells. Ex vivo CFU were counted after serially diluted tissue homogenates and suspended PBS were plated overnight on BA plates.

H&E Staining

Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue blocks were prepared from mouse skin 2 days post-infection as follows: Tissue samples were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde overnight, dehydrated using increasing concentrations of acetone, embedded in paraffin, and prepared for histological analysis. For H&E staining, 2-micron sections were stained using routine methods. Briefly, the paraffin was removed from sections with xylenes, after which they were washed in ethanol and then rehydrated in distilled water. Sections were incubated 10 min at room temperature in Hematoxylin and washed thrice with water. Excess stain was removed by washing with 30% ethanol + 1% HCl and rinsing with water. After two steps of ethanol washing the cytoplasm was stained by incubation in 70% ethanol and 1% Eosin for 10 s. Finally, sections were washed in ethanol and xylenes.

Immunohistochemical Analysis

Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue blocks were prepared from mouse skin 2 days post-infection as follows: Tissue samples were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde overnight, embedded in paraffin, and prepared for histological analysis. For immunohistochemistry, 2-micron sections were immune-labeled using routine immunoperoxidase methods. Briefly, the paraffin was removed from sections with xylenes, after which they were washed in ethanol and then rehydrated in PBS. Samples were blocked 30 min in 3% H₂O₂ solution (Sigma-Aldrich), blocked with 10% goat serum/TRIS-buffered saline for 15 min, incubated for 2 h at room temperature with the primary antibodies, incubated 1 h with species-specific secondary antibodies and lastly developed in 3,3′-diaminobenzidine tetra hydrochloride as a chromogen. Primary antibodies used: anti-Myeloperoxidase (rabbit 1:50 ab9535, Abcam) and anti-histone H3 (citrulline R2 + R8 + R17) (rabbit 1:50 ab5103). Secondary antibody used: Goat-anti-rabbit IgG (H&L) mouse/human ads-HRP (1:200, Southern Biotech).

Light-Sheet Microscopy

Explanted osmotic pumps were fixed with 4% PFA and stained for 1 h on ice with F(ab′)₂-Cy5 from anti-S. aureus antibody (1:500, Abcam ab37644). Samples were then washed in PBS. Osmotic pumps were imaged in water, using an UltraMicroscope II (LaVision BioTec). During imaging, specimens were excited with a 488-nm light for detection of autofluorescence and a 647-nm light for the detection of the Cy5-conjugated antibody. A step size of 10 μm was used to collect images. Image analysis was performed using Imaris software (Bitplane). TIFF files collected from the light sheet microscope were reconstructed into representative 3D images.

Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy

Samples were fixed with 2% glutaraldehyde and 5% formaldehyde in HEPES buffer (HEPES 0.1 M, 0.09 M sucrose, 10 mM CaCl₂, 10 mM MgCl₂, pH 6.9) and kept at 7°C. After washing with TE-buffer (20 mM TRIS, 2 mM EDTA, pH 7,0) for 10 min at room temperature samples were dehydrated in a graded series of acetone (10, 30, 50, 70, 90%) on ice for 30 min for each step. After adjustment to room temperature samples were further dehydrated with 100% acetone before subjected to critical-point drying with liquid CO₂ (CPD030 Bal-Tec, Liechtenstein). Dried samples were covered with a gold-palladium film by sputter coating (SCD 500 Bal-Tec, Liechtenstein) before examination in a Zeiss field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) Merlin (Oberkochen, Germany) using the Everhart Thornley SE-detector and the inlens SE-detector in a 75:25 ratio with an acceleration voltage of 10 kV. Contrast and brightness were adjusted with Adobe Photoshop CS5.

Quantification and Statistical Analysis

GraphPad PRISM 8 was used to determine average values and standard deviations. All the error bars represent the SD. For each figure, the number of replicates is n = 6, all other information relevant for assessing the accuracy and precision of the measurements is included in the corresponding legend. Multiple t-tests were performed with GraphPad PRISM 8 using the Holm-Sidak method (alpha = 0.05), for comparisons between data for S. aureus colonized pumps containing PBS and all other cytokines (*p < 0.0332, **p < 0.0021, ***p < 0.0002).

Results

A Novel Mouse Model to Study Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms in vivo

To evaluate the suitability of osmotic pumps as a model for biofilms in implant associated infections, we implanted osmotic pumps pre-colonized with bioluminescent Staphylococcus aureus Xen29 in C57Bl/6 mice (Figure 1A). We monitored the infection in vivo via non-invasive bioluminescent imaging using a Spectrum CT IVIS, a system routinely used to study biofilm development in vivo. Its main advantage is its ability to non-invasively and longitudinally record the development of infections in vivo recording microbe-encoded luciferase activity. As determined by light radiance (photons/sec/cm²/str), all infections showed a characteristic kinetic: Starting with an early expansion of the luminescent bacteria reaching a peak in radiance within the first 48 h post-implantation before it started to progressively decrease until the end of the experiments (Figure 1B). The mice implanted with pre-colonized osmotic pumps displayed some early weight loss (< 10% of bodyweight) but quickly recovered as the infection declined (data not shown).

FIGURE 1

Figure 1. Mouse model for implant-associated infection. (A) Experimental setup. (B) Biofilm implant-associated infection caused by S. aureus Xen29 in C57Bl/6 mice was monitored in real time for 10 days. Images were taken every 24–48 h. Mice were anesthetized with isoflurane during imaging procedures. Luminescent counts were collected for an exposure time of 30 s within each measured region of interest (ROI) and quantified with Living Image software. (C) Representative Light Sheet micrograph from the surface of immunostained osmotic pumps post-explantation, showing anti-S aureus antibody in green. (D) Images recorded by scanning electron microscopy of colonized implant surfaces. Excavations with the shape of bacterial cells could be found in the matrix (asterisks) as well as bacterial cells with altered geometry (arrows). These are representative images for six mice under the same experimental conditions.

To validate the existence of bacterial biofilms on the surface of the osmotic pumps, the pumps were harvested after 10 days and first analyzed by immunofluorescence. As shown in Figure 1C, tight clusters of S. aureus could be observed on the surface of the osmotic pumps suggesting that the bacteria reside in biofilms. To confirm this observation, we employed scanning electron microscopy (Figure 1D). Indeed, these high resolution images reveal dense clusters of S. aureus. In most cases bacteria were also embedded in an extracellular matrix. This became particularly apparent in areas where the bacteria had been stripped during the preparation of the sample. Excavations with the shape of bacterial cells could be found in the matrix (asterisks in Figure 1D). Of note, bacterial attachment to the external surface of the pump is not always stable as some bacterial clusters appeared to be lost during the preparation of the samples. While the other hand some of these cells appear to be so tightly packed against each other that their typical spherical geometry is altered (arrows in Figure 1D).

Interestingly, immunohistochemistry of skin samples derived from the surroundings of the colonized pumps at the height of the infection show infiltrates of high numbers of polymorphonuclear cells (Figure 2A). Inflammation of the deep dermis and superficial musculature becomes also apparent at the contact areas with the S. aureus colonized pumps. In contrast, no such changes were observed when pumps had not been colonized prior implantation (Figure 2B).

FIGURE 2

Figure 2. Skin infiltrates increase when in contact with S aureus Xen29. Microscopic evaluation at different magnification of skin samples on day 2 after implantation of osmotic pumps colonized (A,C,E) or non-colonized with S aureus Xen29 (B,D,F). H&E staining (A–D) and anti-MPO (E,F) immunostaining of tissue surrounding S. aureus colonized pumps. These images are representative for 6 mice per experimental condition.

Immunostaining revealed that myeloperoxidase (MPO is expressed by the polymorphonuclear infiltrating cells at the contact interphase of the colonized osmotic pumps and the host tissue (Figure 2C). MPO is a major neutrophil effector protein stored in large amounts in the azurophilic granules and is released into the phagosome after phagocytosis of pathogens. While the majority of MPO remains in the phagosome, up to 30% of total cellular MPO can be released as active enzyme into the extracellular space via degranulation or by the formation of extracellular traps by neutrophil (49). Apparently such neutrophilic granulocytes are attracted to these colonized implants. Only few of such cells were found around non-colonized pumps (Figure 2D).

Ectopic Application of IL-1β Enhances the Spread of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm in vivo

The use of the osmotic pumps allowed us to test the effect of immunologically active soluble compounds on bacterial colonization and biofilm formation. In addition, their effect on the accumulation of immune cells could also be tested. Thus, we pre-colonized osmotic pumps with S. aureus Xen29 and filled the pumps prior implantation with various compounds known to affect different cells and arms of the immune system.

Most of the cytokines tested (IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, IL-23, IFNγ, TNFα) and anti-TGF-β1 mAb had no significant effect in the development of the bacterial biofilm as revealed by the peak radiance emitted by the S. aureus Xen29 (Figure 3A). Likewise, the kinetics of bioluminescence detected were similar to the situation were PBS was applied as control (Figure 3A). In contrast, under the influence of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β the peak radiance at the height of infection was strongly increased, even exceeding the upper limit of detection over a large area of the skin (Figure 3A). These findings indicate that the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β leads to augmented biofilm formation. We also addressed potential effects of IL-1β on S. aureus Xen 29 by culturing bacteria in the presence of this cytokine. However, we failed to observe any effects on bacterial growth (data not shown). Due to the strong effect of Il-1β in vivo, we also loaded the pre-colonized pumps with anti-Il-1β antibodies to block Il-1β activity during biofilm infection. Under these conditions, bacterial colonization was similar to experiments where pumps were filled with PBS indicating that Il-1β is not essential for the maintenance of the biofilm infection. We did not observe a quantitative difference in the local recruitment of neutrophils in the blood or per histological micrographs analyzed.

FIGURE 3

Figure 3. Ectopically supplied Il-1β increases measured luminescent counts. (A) Quantification of bioluminescence of S aureus Xen29 in C57Bl/6 mice implanted with colonized osmotic pumps (CP). (B) Normalized cell counts for cd11b⁺ly6g⁺ cells measured in the blood circulation of C57Bl/6 mice implanted with colonized osmotic pumps. Data is presented as mean ± SD for six mice used in each experimental group during two independent experiments (***p < 0.0002).

During the first days of the infection significantly increased numbers of neutrophils (CD11b⁺Ly6G⁺ cells) were also found in the blood of mice implanted with IL-1β filled pumps (Figure 3B) while the effect of other cytokines on neutrophil counts were minimal. It should be noted that blood neutrophil counts were not increased with statistical significance after application of any other cytokines tested (Figure 3B).

Histologic evaluation of skin samples neighboring IL-1β-loaded pumps at the peak of infection revealed extracellular MPO lining of the contact regions (Figure 4C) as well as intra- and extracellular citrullinated histones in the tissues surrounding the contact regions with the pumps (Figures 4E,F). We also detected S. aureus inside cellular traps (Figure 4, arrows). These observations might indicate the activation of myeloid cells and the formation of NETs. Histologic evaluation of skin samples neighboring PBS-loaded pumps at the peak of infection are depicted in the Supplementary Figure 1.

FIGURE 4

Figure 4. Cellular traps are found in the contact surfaces with S aureus. Microscopic evaluation at different magnification of skin samples on day 2 after implantation of osmotic pumps colonized with Staphylococcus aureus Xen29 and filled with IL-1β, H&E staining (A,B,D) anti-MPO immunostaining (C) and anti-histone H3 (citrulline R2 + R8 + R17) immunostaining (E,F). We have also detected S. aureus inside cellular traps (arrows). These are representative images for six mice under this experimental conditions.

In order to further investigate the effect of the applied cytokines during infection, we determined the presence of S. aureus in different organs by quantifying its colony forming units (CFU) (Figure 5). Compared to all other cytokines tested, increased numbers of bacteria were found in blood, liver, spleen and heart under the influence of ectopic IL-1β.

FIGURE 5

Figure 5. Colony forming unit counts. Absolute bacterial CFU counts in different organs 10 days after implanting non-colonized osmotic pumps (NCP) or colonized osmotic pumps (CP) supplying different cytokines. Data is presented for six mice used in each experimental group during two independent experiments (*p < 0.0332, ***p < 0.0002).

Neutrophils Confer Early Tissue Protection Against Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Attachment

Since neutrophils are strongly recruited to the infection site in the presence of IL-1β, we aimed to address their function and effects on bacterial colonization and biofilm formation. Therefore, we depleted C57Bl/6 mice of neutrophils by systemically administering anti-Gr-1 antibodies before implanting osmotic pumps pre-colonized with S. aureus Xen29. We confirmed depletion of neutrophils during the first days of the experiment by testing blood for the presence of CD11b⁺Ly6G⁺ cells (data not shown). Under these conditions, increased radiance was detected on osmotic pumps delivering IL-1β or PBS, compared to mice that were not neutrophil depleted (Figure 6A). Bacterial dissemination was also increased in the liver when Gr-1⁺ cells were depleted (Figure 6B).

FIGURE 6

Figure 6. Neutrophils prevent early tissue colonization by S aureus. (A) Quantification of bioluminescence of S aureus Xen29 in C57Bl/6 mice implanted with colonized osmotic pumps, filled with 100 ml of either PBS or IL-1b, with or without neutrophil depletion after anti-Gr-1 mAb application. (B) Comparison of absolute bacterial CFU counts in different organs 10 days after implanting colonized osmotic pumps (CP) with or without neutrophil depletion. Data is presented as mean±SD for 6 mice used in each experimental group during 2 independent experiments. (C) Microscopic evaluation of skin samples on day 2 after implantation of osmotic pumps colonized with S aureus Xen29 into neutrophil-depleted C57Bl/6 mice. Early colonization of skin tissue by S. aureus could be detected (arrows). (D) Representative examples of scanning electron microscopy from colonized peri-implant tissue. These images are representative for 6 mice per experimental condition. Multiple t-tests were performed with GraphPad PRISM 8 using the Holm-Sidak method, (alpha = 0.05) for comparisons between data for S. aureus colonized pumps containing PBS and all other cytokines (* p < 0.0332, ** p < 0.0021, *** p < 0.0002).

Histologic analysis at the peak of infection also revealed successful depletion of neutrophils since the strong infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells no longer could be detected at the interface. However, once neutrophils were depleted, early colonization of skin tissue by S. aureus could be observed as revealed by a purple-stained band of Gram-positive bacteria spanning the entire contact surface to the pump (Figure 6C). This was not observed in histological images from non-depleted mice. Cellular traps at the contact surface could also no longer be found in neutrophil-depleted mice (Figure 6C). Scanning electron microscopy, 10 days after implantation, confirmed attachment of S. aureus to the skin in neutrophil-depleted mice (Figure 6D). These findings indicate that infiltrating neutrophils in non-manipulated mice prevent bacteria from disseminating from the implant's surface into the surrounding tissue. Interestingly, colonization of skin tissue by S. aureus appeared to be heterogeneous as the presence of loosely clustered bacteria could sometimes be observed. At the same time some dense clusters, which are compatible with bacteria residing in biofilms, could also be found within the same tissue surrounding the pumps (Figure 6D).

Discussion

Establishment of a Mouse Model for Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms in vivo

We established a simple and reliable mouse model to study the formation of S. aureus biofilms on a surface similar to that of a typical medical implant by employing osmotic pumps. In the clinics, biofilms formed by S. aureus are found on all kind of medical implants composed of various materials. These include cardiac valves, dental implants, joint replacements as well as catheters. In animal models, catheters are usually employed when studying biofilms. They can be implanted after acquiring particular surface coatings and can be colonized with bacteria post-implantation (32, 33). However, the geometry of catheters differs strongly from those of other devices. In this respect, the colonized lumen of a catheter might represent a rather protected niche and processes controlling biofilm formation in such devices might be substantially different from those on open surfaces. More precisely, the surface of other colonized indwelling devices is constantly exposed to host cells and tissues and in particular to immune effectors of cellular and humoral origin. Besides being representative for indwelling devices, osmotic pumps also allowed us to manipulate ongoing immune reactions during the entire observation period. Via these pumps we ectopically supplied various active cytokines in order to analyze their properties on colonization, biofilm formation as well as their effect on the accumulation and function of immune cells.

In the current setup, the pumps were pre-colonized with bacteria before implantation to yield biofilm formation while bacterial colonization could not be obtained on sterilely implanted pumps when bacteria were administered i.v. post-implantation. We attribute this to the rather short observation period used for these experiments, while in the patient usually month or even years pass before colonization is observed. The use of the recombinant strain S. aureus Xen29 proved rather favorable in our studies since its bioluminescent radiance allowed non-invasive monitoring of the colonization of the pumps during the entire observation period.

Under the conditions described in this study, we did not observe variability in the initial attachment of S. aureus to the surface of the osmotic pumps and measured an average colonization of 10⁷ CFU over the whole surface by bioluminescent imaging. Formation of biofilms became already evident from the studies using fluorescently-labeled anti-S. aureus antibodies revealing dense clusters of bacteria on the surface of the pumps. In the absence of biofilm a dispersed bacterial colonization would be expected. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the biofilm associated residence of S. aureus on the surface of the pumps. Extremely dense clustering of the bacteria was observed and the bacterial extracellular matrix was particularly obvious in samples where the microorganisms had been extracted during the preparation procedure. These images showed deep groves present in the extracellular matrix which apparently had been formed by bacteria. Thus, our implanted pre-colonized osmotic pumps represent a valid model to study biofilm formation by S. aureus on the surface of medical devices.

As expected, the infection also attracted myeloid cells. Based on MPO staining as well as the shape of the nuclei a dense ring of neutrophilic granulocytes was formed around the infected pumps. This ring of neutrophils is reminiscent of neutrophil rings around biofilm forming S. Typhimurium in solid murine tumors described by us earlier (50). Likewise, the neutrophils in the present study also seemingly fail to phagocytose the S. aureus. It remains currently elusive whether this is due to the biofilm formation of the microorganisms, other escape mechanisms or due to the functional status of the polymorphonuclear cells.

Ectopic Application of IL-1β Enhances S. aureus Biofilm Infection in vivo

When using the osmotic pumps to affect host response or biofilm formation, we ectopically applied several pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as IL-10. However, with the exception of IL-1β no effect on biofilm formation could be observed. In the presence of this cytokine, a strong increase in the spread area of S. aureus Xen 29 in the tissue surrounding the pumps was also observed. IL-1β is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine known for mediating acute and chronic local and systemic inflammation (51). When present at high quantities, IL-1β enters the blood stream and stimulates the development of neutrophils and platelets in the bone marrow and promotes their migration and activation. Neutrophil recruitment prompted by IL-1β is known as a physiological requirement for the clearance of S. aureus skin infections (52–54). In biofilm infections, S. aureus has been shown to express several pore-forming leucocidins (55, 56). In the context of such chronic infections, these toxins are involved in the aggregation of inflammasomes containing NLRP3 and the activation of caspase-1 resulting in expression and release of mature IL-1β (57–59). In contrast to S aureus skin infections, implant associated infection where neutrophils and macrophages are already engaged in implant encapsulation represents a different challenge to the organism. In that situation, IL-1β supply led in the present study to increased neutrophil infiltration which, unexpectedly, also resulted in an increase in bacterial load. This finding is reminiscent of bacterial infection by Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (60, 61) or of Staphylococcus epidermidis (32, 33) where IL-1β promotes bacterial survival. It should be noted that the supplied 1 μg/mouse/day IL-1β would result in a theoretical average release of 2 ng IL-1β per gram of body weight per hour. This would be much more than the tens of pg/ml found physiologically in mouse serum and probably accounts for the increased neutrophil recruitment in the blood and in the contact region of our samples.

We speculate that the enhanced infection driven by the ectopic supply of IL-1β might be the result of increased recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages showing a non-phagocytic phenotype similar to leukocytes described by Bhattacharya et al. (62). These authors reported on the inefficacy of such neutrophils to clear the biofilms or ingest biofilm residing S. aureus in vitro. Instead, leukocidins secreted by such bacteria were shown to induce strong NETosis indicated by the presence of extracellular elastase and myeloperoxidase. In that study NETosis did not harm the bacteria but rather supported their survival. Although not clarified in detail, it was speculated that the staphylococcal thermonuclease NucA might be responsible for this effect by digesting NET DNA. This nuclease is also expressed by the strain of S. aureus used in this study. Applied to our model, this would suggest that trap formation of host cells by recruitment of neutrophils via IL-1β might indirectly contribute to bacterial spread on the implant's surface. Indeed we believe we have found cell trap formation and NETosis in our model because of the presence of extracellular MPO and citrullinated histones along the tissue lining the contact region of S. aureus biofilms. The modification of arginines by peptidyl arginine deiminases in chromatin histones to citrulline is considered a hallmark for NETosis (63).

A role of neutrophils in driving biofilm formation was also confirmed by depleting these cells in mice. Absence of neutrophils not only led to enhanced infection but also to the dissemination of S. aureus into the surrounding tissue. Disseminated bacteria also form biofilms in these new niches but the aggregations of bacteria appears more heterogeneous compared to that on pump surfaces. This might be the result of a less homogeneous adhesion of the bacteria to cells or matrix of the surrounding tissues. Importantly, the strong bacterial dissemination into the surrounding tissue in neutrophil-depleted mice indicates that the newly recruited neutrophils surrounding the pumps form a barrier that protects the neighboring tissue, despite being unable to phagocytose the bacteria or clear the biofilms by any other means. However, it does not seem unlikely that factors produced by neutrophils directly or indirectly lead to enhanced biofilm formation. Although the nature of such factors remains currently elusive, they could explain why increased neutrophil recruitment goes along with increased biofilm formation as described in this study.

Data Availability

Original Fluorescent images, Histological images, electron micrographs and raw data supporting the conclusions of this manuscript can be found under the 10.17632/mb49v25tbv.1 and will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation, to any qualified researcher.

Ethics Statement

This study was carried out in accordance with the local animal welfare regulations. The protocol was reviewed and approved by the institutional review board and the Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit (LAVES) under the permission number 14–1567.

Author Contributions

RG, HF, SW, and RF contributed to conception and design of the study. RG performed animal experiments, microbiological methods, and immunohistochemical microscopy. AB performed tissue sample preparation. MR: scanning electron microscopy. RG, SW, and RF wrote the manuscript. All authors contributed to manuscript revision, read, and approved the submitted version.

Funding

This work was supported by funds to RF through the Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155) and the BIOFABRICATION FOR NIFE Initiative financed by the Ministry of Lower Saxony and the Volkswagen Stiftung (VWZN2860).

Conflict of Interest Statement

After working on this project HF was employed by BioNTech SE.

The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

We thank Susanne Häußler for continuous discussion and fruitful suggestions. Parts of this study were presented as a poster in Biofilms 8 conference.

Supplementary Material

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2019.01082/full#supplementary-material

References

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