Prize Award 2014

The role of coagulates in invasive staphylococcus aureus infections
Our coagulation system is a double-edged sword: it protects us against severe bleeding, but on the other hand, the majority of deaths in the western world are due to pathological activation of the coagulation system. This leads to the formation of blood clots that can cause heart attacks, strokes, and pulmonary embolisms. It becomes increasingly evident that the coagulation system is not only important to protect us against bleeding, but also plays an important role in protecting the body from infections by bacteria. But also in this case, the same paradox applies. While blood clots can ‘trap’ bacteria and prevent their spreading, some bacteria can take advantage of the coagulation system to cause more severe infections. In our work, we study how a specific bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, uses the coagulation system to cause more severe disease. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most frequent causes of deadly infections; more people die from infections by this bacteria than by HIV/AIDS. The number of infections by S. aureus increases every year, and even more frighteningly, the growing resistance against antibiotics makes it increasingly difficult to treat those infections. Therefore, we urgently need new therapies to be able to prevent and treat this major healthcare challenge.

By better understanding how S. aureus misuses our coagulation system when it causes an infection, we can develop strategies that prevent this. In our work, we have shown that we can ‘disarm’ this dangerous bacteria by preventing its many interactions with the coagulation system. This was studied in various animal infection models, and the research continues in a clinical trial. Together with antibiotics, an approach that reduces the infectivity by preventing dangerous activation of coagulation can lead to new and more effective treatments for an important and increasing societal challenge.