Pseudomonas aeruginosa forms biofilms in acute infection independent of cell-to-cell signaling.
Biofilms are bacterial communities residing within a polysaccharide matrix that are associated with persistence and antibiotic resistance in chronic infections. We show that the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa forms biofilms within 8 h of infection in thermally injured mice, demonstrating that biofilms contribute to bacterial colonization in acute infections as well. Using light, electron, and confocal scanning laser microscopy, P. aeruginosa biofilms were visualized within burned tissue surrounding blood vessels and adipose cells. Although quorum sensing (QS), a bacterial signaling mechanism, coordinates differentiation of biofilms in vitro, wild-type and QS-deficient P. aeruginosa strains formed similar biofilms in vivo. Our findings demonstrate that P. aeruginosa forms biofilms on specific host tissues independently of QS.
Schaber
J Andy
JA
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Department of Surgery, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
Triffo
W Jeffrey
WJ
Suh
Sang Jin
SJ
Oliver
Jeffrey W
JW
Hastert
Mary Catherine
MC
Griswold
John A
JA
Auer
Manfred
M
Hamood
Abdul N
AN
Rumbaugh
Kendra P
KP
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000382:microbiology; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000502:physiology