INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE CONSTITUTIVE HOST DEFENSES OF TEARS AND STAPHYLOCOCCUS-EPIDERMIDIS

As part of the normal microbiota of the external eye, Staphylococcus e pidermidis has probably developed strategies to overcome tear defences . The interaction of this bacteria with constitutive tear proteins was examined, Isolates of S. epidermidis grown in 10% serum or artificial tear fluid containing lysozyme or lactoferrin were resistant to the a ction of these proteins, Using ELISA, cell wall binding of C3, vitrone ctin and lactoferrin differed quantitatively between strains and in cl osed-eye compared to open-eye conditions, No differences were observed between ocular and non-ocular strains. This suggests that ocular isol ates originate from the general host microbiota and S. epidermidis iso lates are resistant to individual constitutive tear proteins.