Stress-Induced Dispersal of <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i> Biofilm Is Due to Compositional Changes in Its Biofilm Matrix

Abstract

Biofilm formation is an important virulence factor of Staphylococcus epidermidis . However, little is known about the mechanisms of staphylococcal biofilm dispersal. In the present study, we investigated biofilm dispersal of the model biofilm-forming strain S. epidermidis RP62A under oligotrophic stress conditions. We found that oligotrophic stress led to rapid dispersal of pre-formed biofilms and concomitant changes in the composition of the extracellular matrix, including a decrease in poly- N -acetylglucosamine polysaccharide and an increase in proteins. Our results suggest that modifications in biofilm integrity caused by compositional changes in the biofilm matrix can induce biofilm dispersal.