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

Next-generation genomic sequencing (MICRO\&BIO platform, MiSeq, Illumina) and bioinformatics analyses. After validating data quality, genomes will be re-assembled using Spades software (version 3.15.4) and CLC® (Qiagen), then compared with the National Center for Biotechnology Information GenBank database. They will also be analysed on the online Type-Strain Genomes Server platform to accurately identify the bacteria. Genome annotation will be done using the DDBJ Fast Annotation and Submission Tool. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) analysis based on the alignment of whole genomes and core-genomes will be carried out using version 7 of MAFFT (multiple alignment using fast Fourier transform) software, then quantified using snp-dists (version 0.6.3). This approach will enable the molecular epidemiology of the collection of strains in France and other European countries to be clarified, and the main circulating clades to be assessed, particularly depending on the origin of samples.

The resistome will be assessed by identifying known and described resistance genes in staphylococci using bioinformatics analyses of sequenced complete bacterial genomes. A search for plasmids will also be made using various specific software packages (ResFinder, CARD, PointFinder, Plasmidfinder, in-house pipeline).

The virulome of the strains will be studied based on the genomic sequencing data obtained and with reference to the literature on Staphylococci. Various specific software packages (Pathogenfinder, Virulencefinder, in-house pipeline) will be used for this purpose.

Antibiotic resistance will be assessed using a Sensititer® plate (Thermo ScientificTM, Illkirch) to evaluate the minimum inhibitory concentration of isolates against a series of antibiotics commonly used for S. pettenkoferi infections, including new molecules currently on the market or in development, such as Ceftaroline, Ceftobiprole, Dalbavancin, Delafloxacin, Tedizolid and Oritavancin. Minimum inhibitory concentration values will be interpreted in accordance with the recommendations of the Antibiogram Committee of the Société Française de Microbiologie (https://www.sfm-microbiologie.org/2021/04/23/casfm-avril-2021-v1-0/).

"Different strains of S. pettenkoferi isolated from foot osteitis in diabetic patients and non-diabetic osteitis will be selected according to the clades identified and phenotypically characterised by further analysis:~* Observation of culture characteristics (culture requirements, growth time, colony size and haemolytic capacity), (n=20)~* Determination of growth curves by measuring absorbance at 600 nm using the Infinite M Mano automatic absorbance reader (TECAN, Lyon), (n=20)~* Study of the ability to form biofilm in the presence (antibiofilmogram) (n=85) or absence (BioFilm Ring® test, Biofilm Control, St Beauzire) (n=85) of various antibiotics commonly used for the treatment of S. pettenkoferi infection during osteitis."

"Three strains of S. pettenkoferi isolated from foot osteitis in diabetic patients will be selected on the basis of the clades identified and the study of the virulome in order to be analysed on :~* In vitro cell culture models of macrophages (RAW 264.7) and osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) to assess the invasion potential of these isolates by measuring internalisation rates (TECAN, Lyon) and LDH release (CyQUANT LDH Cytotoxicity kit), a sign of cellular toxicity of the isolate.~* An in vivo wound model on diabetic zebrafish (Dario rerio) with evaluation of their survival at 48h in the presence of the isolates by immersion.~These models were developed at the MICRO\&BIO Platform and the INSERM 1047 VBIC unit."