Calcium Phosphate Mineralization of Bacteria

The morphology, structure, and chemistry of calcifications upon native and bioprosthetic heart valves infected with Staphylococcus aureus have been investigated using high-resolution transmission and scanning electron microscopy, electron diffraction, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Additionally, calcium phosphate mineralization of bacteria has been studied experimentally under the conditions simulating the major ion composition of blood plasma (Ca, P, Mg, NaCl). The experiments address the capacity of hydroxyapatite isolated from calcified valves to adsorb bacteria and the mineralization ability of bacteria (S. aureus). The bacteria were found out to activate formation of calcium phosphate in the blood plasma of patients.