title: Air pollution alters Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae biofilms, antibiotic tolerance and colonisation.
abstract: Air pollution is the world's largest single environmental health risk (WHO). Particulate matter such as black carbon is one of the main components of air pollution. The effects of particulate matter on human health are well established however the effects on bacteria, organisms central to ecosystems in humans and in the natural environment, are poorly understood. We report here for the first time that black carbon drastically changes the development of bacterial biofilms, key aspects of bacterial colonisation and survival. Our data show that exposure to black carbon induces structural, compositional and functional changes in the biofilms of both S. pneumoniae and S. aureus. Importantly, the tolerance of the biofilms to multiple antibiotics and proteolytic degradation is significantly affected. Additionally, our results show that black carbon impacts bacterial colonisation in vivo. In a mouse nasopharyngeal colonisation model, black carbon caused S. pneumoniae to spread from the nasopharynx to the lungs, which is essential for subsequent infection. Therefore our study highlights that air pollution has a significant effect on bacteria that has been largely overlooked. Consequently these findings have important implications concerning the impact of air pollution on human health and bacterial ecosystems worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Adrian Building, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, Leicestershire, UK.
authors.forename: Shane J K
authors.initials: SJK
authors.lastname: Hussey
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Adrian Building, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, Leicestershire, UK.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Purves
authors.affiliation: Centre for Core Biotechnology Services, Adrian Building, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, Leicestershire, UK.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Allcock
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Medical Sciences Building, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 9HN, Leicestershire, UK.
authors.forename: Vitor E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, Leicestershire, UK.
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Monks
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Adrian Building, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, Leicestershire, UK.
authors.forename: Julian M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ketley
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Medical Sciences Building, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 9HN, Leicestershire, UK.
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Andrew
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Adrian Building, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, Leicestershire, UK.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Morrissey
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D051379:Mice; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D059748:Proteolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D053260:Soot / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D053260:Soot