(330c) Understanding the Role of Protein Deposition in Microbial Interactions with Catheters Using Liquid-Infused Surfaces

The treatment and control of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is becoming increasingly challenging due to the rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Part of the problem lies in the fact that the colonization of catheter surfaces is a complex interaction between the pathogen, the surface, and the host that is difficult to untangle. For example, recent work has shown that fibrinogen (Fg) is released during catheterization and deposited on the catheter surface, coating it and forming a platform for colonization by CAUTI-associated pathogens. Yet the extent of the role it plays remains unclear. In this work, we use bio-inspired liquid-infused surfaces fabricated on catheter materials to assess the contribution of proteins in the deposition and formation of biofilms both in vitro and in vivo. We find that the amount of protein on the surface of the catheter material can be adjusted through modulating the amount of liquid presented at the surface. This in turn affects the interaction of the bacteria with the surface, with more bacteria colonizing surfaces where more protein is present. The results demonstrate that liquid-infused surfaces can be a useful tool in untangling complex interactions in the colonization of catheter surfaces by bacterial pathogens in CAUTI.