title: Interspecies communication between Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
abstract: Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are opportunistic pathogens that commonly cause pulmonary infections in cystic fibrosis patients and occasionally co-infect patients' lungs. Both organisms possess quorum-sensing systems dependent on N-acyl homoserine lactone (N-acyl-HSL). Cross-feeding assays demonstrated that P. aeruginosa and B. cepacia were able to utilize heterologous N-acyl-HSL signaling molecules. The ability of quorum-sensing genes from one species to complement the respective quorum-sensing mutations in the heterologous species was also examined. These studies suggest that B. cepacia CepR can use N-acyl-HSLs synthesized by RhlI and LasI and that P. aeruginosa LasR and RhlR can use N-acyl-HSLs synthesized by CepI. It is possible that a mixed bacterial population of B. cepacia and P. aeruginosa can coordinately regulate some of their virulence factors and influence the progression of lung disease due to infection with these organisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary Health Sciences Center, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lewenza
authors.forename: Michelle B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: Pamela A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sokol
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019121:Burkholderia Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016956:Burkholderia cepacia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D007763:Lac Operon; D008025:Ligases; D009154:Mutation; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C085427:LuxI protein, Bacteria; D014157:Transcription Factors; D037521:Virulence Factors; C088386:homoserine lactone; D008025:Ligases; C449816:N-acylhomoserine lactone synthase; D015107:4-Butyrolactone