title: Pathogenic factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa - the role of biofilm in pathogenicity and as a target for phage therapy.
abstract: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause several acute and chronic infections in humans, and it has become an important cause of nosocomial infections and antibiotic resistance. Biofilm represents an important virulence factor for these bacteria, plays a role in P. aeruginosa infections and avoidance of immune defence mechanisms, and has the ability to protect the bacteria from antibiotics. Alginate, Psl and Pel, three exopolysaccharides, are the main components in biofilm matrix, with many biological functions attributed to them, especially with respect to the protection of the bacterial cell from antibiotics and the immune system. Pseudomonas infections, biofilm formation and development of resistance to antibiotics all require better understanding to achieve the best results using alternative treatment with phage therapy. This review describes the P. aeruginosa pathogenicity and virulence factors with a special focus on the biofilm and its role in infection and resistance to antibiotics and summarizes phage therapy as an alternative approach in treatment of P. aeruginosa infections.
authors.affiliation: Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland; Department of Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Taiz University, Taiz, Yemen.
authors.forename: Fairoz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al-Wrafy
authors.affiliation: Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brzozowska
authors.affiliation: Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Górska
authors.affiliation: Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gamian
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D000071059:Phage Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D037521:Virulence Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D037521:Virulence Factors