title: Detection of N-acylhomoserine lactones in lung tissues of mice infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
abstract: The pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is associated with expression of virulence factors, many of which are controlled by two N:-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL)-based quorum-sensing systems. Escherichia coli strains equipped with a luxR-based monitor system expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the presence of exogenous AHL molecules were used to detect the production of AHLs from P. aeruginosa in vivo. Mice were challenged intratracheally with alginate beads containing P. aeruginosa and E. coli and killed on different days after the challenge. By means of confocal scanning laser microscopy, GFP-expressing E. coli bacteria could be detected in the lung tissues, indicating production and excretion of AHL molecules in vivo by the infecting P. aeruginosa. AHL signals were detected mainly in lung tissues exhibiting severe pathological changes. These findings support the view that expression of AHL molecules by P. aeruginosa during infection coincides with its pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen Ø, DK-2100, Denmark1.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen Ø, DK-2100, Denmark1.
authors.forename: Zhijun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, the Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby,DK-2800, Denmark2.
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hentzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, the Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby,DK-2800, Denmark2.
authors.forename: Jens Bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, the Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby,DK-2800, Denmark2.
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heydorn
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, University Park, Miami, FL 33199, USA3.
authors.forename: Kalai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mathee
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen Ø, DK-2100, Denmark1.
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl fur Mikrobiologie, Technische Universitat Munchen, Freising D-85350, Germany4.
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eberl
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, the Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby,DK-2800, Denmark2.
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Molin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen Ø, DK-2100, Denmark1.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Høiby
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, the Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby,DK-2800, Denmark2.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Givskov
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000382:microbiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins; C088386:homoserine lactone; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D015107:4-Butyrolactone