Widespread pyocyanin over-production among isolates of a cystic fibrosis epidemic strain.
BACKGROUND
Some isolates of the Liverpool cystic fibrosis epidemic strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibit an unusual virulence-related phenotype, characterized by over-production of quorum sensing-regulated exoproducts such as pyocyanin and LasA protease. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of this unusual phenotype amongst isolates of the epidemic strain, and to study other intraclonal phenotypic and genotypic variations.


RESULTS
The unusual phenotype was detected in at least one epidemic strain isolate from the majority of cystic fibrosis patients tested, and can be retained for up to seven years during chronic infection. Multiple sequential isolates of the epidemic strain taken from six patients over a period of up to nine years exhibited a wide range of phenotypes, including different antimicrobial susceptibilities. Our data suggest that each sputum sample contains a mixture of phenotypes and genotypes within the epidemic strain population, including within colony morphotypes. Many isolates exhibit premature (during early rather than late exponential growth) and over-production of pyocyanin, which has a number of toxic effects directly relevant to cystic fibrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The widespread occurrence of this unusual phenotype suggests that it may play an important role in the success of the epidemic strain.
Fothergill
Joanne L
JL
Division of Medical Microbiology and Genitourinary Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. j.fothergill@liv.ac.uk <j.fothergill@liv.ac.uk>
Panagea
Stavroula
S
Hart
Charles A
CA
Walshaw
Martin J
MJ
Pitt
Tyrone L
TL
Winstanley
Craig
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010641:Phenotype; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D011710:Pyocyanine / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C080365:LasR protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D015534:Trans-Activators; D037521:Virulence Factors; D011710:Pyocyanine; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases