Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that interact with surfaces, and are known to display unique properties that differentiate them from free-floating, individual microorganisms. While biofilms are widespread and play many positive roles in all environments, they are also difficult to eradicate when adhered to surfaces in medical and industrial settings.
We use genetics, genomics, molecular biology, and various in vitro and in vivo biofilm models to better understand biofilm-associated functions used by commensal and pathogenic bacteria. We also attempt to translate our fundamental approaches into relevant anti-biofilm strategies in collaboration with clinicians and industrial partners.
CATH-GE – a new conservative treatment to eradicate biofilms on catheters
We developed and validated in vitro and in vivo an anti-biofilm lock Gentamicin-EDTA solution which protects central venous catheters (implantable chambers of the port-a-cath type). Although this approach could not be used for systemic administration, it would prevent the removal and the current systematic replacement of these specific and widely used medical devices in particularly fragile patients.
In collaboration with David Lebeaux (HEGP hospital), the pharmacy of the E. Herriot hospital, Lyon and the CRT, we developed a clinical study project and we are pleased to announce that, after completing all the administrative and ethical steps required to submit the project to the ANSM, we have just received the authorization to start the CATH-GE clinical trial. The recruitment of the first patients will start in HEGP in January. The recruitments in Mondor and Saint-Louis hospitals should follow soon after, if the covid-19 situation allows.
Stressmann F*, Bernal-Bayard J*, Pérez-Pascual D, Audrain B, Rendueles O, Briolat V, Bruchmann S, Volant S, Ghozlane A, Haussler S, Duchaud E, Levraud JP, Ghigo JM. Mining zebrafish microbiota reveals key community-level resistance against fish pathogen infection.The ISME Journal, Oct.19. doi:10.1038/s41396-020-00807-8. Online ahead of print (*co-first authors)
Pérez-Pascual D, Estellé-Fabrellas J, Dutto G, Rodde C, Bernardet JF, Marchand Y, Duchaud E, Przybyla C*, Ghigo JM* (2020) Growth performance and adaptability of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) gut microbiota to alternative diets free of fish products. Microorganisms, in press. (*co-corresponding authors)
Chekli Y, Perron-Cane C, Dell’Arcipret D, Allemand JF, Li C, Ghigo JM, Gauthier A, Lebreton A, Desprat N*, Beloin C* (2020) Visualizing the dynamics of exported bacterial proteins with the chemogenetic fluorescent reporter FAST. Scientific Reports, Sep 25;10(1):15791. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-72498-2 (*co-corresponding authors)
Béchon* N, Mihajlovic* J, Vendrell-Fernandez S, Chain F, Langella P, Beloin C, and Ghigo JM (2020) Capsular polysaccharides cross-regulation modulates Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron biofilm formation. mBio May/June 2020 Vol. 11 Issue 3, e00729-20
Thaïs Couasnon , Damien Alloyeau*, Bénédicte Ménez , François Guyot , Jean-Marc Ghigo and Alexandre Gélabert* (2020). In situ monitoring of exopolymer-dependent Mn mineralization on bacterial surfaces Science Advances. in press
Béchon N, Jiménez-Fernández A, Witwinoski J, Bierque E, Taib N, Cokelaer T, Ma L, Ghigo JM, Gribaldo S, Beloin C (2020) Autotransporters drive biofilm formation and auto-aggregation in the diderm Firmicute Veillonella parvula. Journal of Bacteriology, in press.