AN IN VITRO MODEL FOR IMPLANT-RELATED INFECTIONS

Research indicates that the production of the nuclease enzyme in S. aureus cells has a positive effect on rates of biofilm dispersal in vitro. In this document, we transform that experimental design in a clinically relevant direction, utilizing silicone surfaces and human blood plasma for growth and dispersal medium. Expanding upon the design, research was done in the contexts of both dispersal and enzyme-mediated detachment. Several novel assays were developed, including a rod-based assay, a lumen assay, and a “slice” assay. Our results indicate that nuclease is not involved in the dispersal of the S. aureus biofilm in vivo, as we uncovered no significant change in dispersal rates for nuclease producers and non-producers. Though the hypothesis yielded a negative result, our research did manage to characterize different elements of biofilm composure through enzymatic detachment experimentation.