Inactivation of the rhlA gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa prevents rhamnolipid production, disabling the protection against polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
Many of the virulence factors produced by the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa are quorum-sensing (QS) regulated. Among these are rhamnolipids, which have been shown to cause lysis of several cellular components of the human immune system, e.g. monocyte-derived macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). We have previously shown that rhamnolipids produced by P. aeruginosa cause necrotic death of PMNs in vitro. This raises the possibility that rhamnolipids may function as a 'biofilm shield'in vivo, which contributes significantly to the increased tolerance of P. aeruginosa biofilms to PMNs. In the present study, we demonstrate the importance of the production of rhamnolipids in the establishment and persistence of P. aeruginosa infections, using an in vitro biofilm system, an intraperitoneal foreign-body model and a pulmonary model of P. aeruginosa infections in mice. Our experimental data showed that a P. aeruginosa strain, unable to produce any detectable rhamnolipids due to an inactivating mutation in the single QS-controlled rhlA gene, did not induce necrosis of PMNs in vitro and exhibited increased clearance compared with its wild-type counterpart in vivo. Conclusively, the results support our model that rhamnolipids are key protective agents of P. aeruginosa against PMNs.
Van Gennip
Maria
M
Institute of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Christensen
Louise Dahl
LD
Alhede
Morten
M
Phipps
Richard
R
Jensen
Peter Østrup
PØ
Christophersen
Lars
L
Pamp
Sünje Johanna
SJ
Moser
Claus
C
Mikkelsen
Per Jensen
PJ
Koh
Andrew Y
AY
Tolker-Nielsen
Tim
T
Pier
Gerald B
GB
Høiby
Niels
N
Givskov
Michael
M
Bjarnsholt
Thomas
T
D000818:Animals; D018441:Biofilms; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D017354:Point Mutation; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000382:microbiology; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006017:Glycolipids; C418382:rhamnolipid