Temperature-dependent reprogramming of virulence traits during Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that occupies diverse ecological niches, including soil, water, and the human host. Environmental cues encountered across these habitats trigger adaptive responses that promote survival and persistence through regulation of virulence-associated traits, including secreted factors, siderophores, and biofilm exopolysaccharides (EPS). One major…
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a pathogen that can be found in various environments, such as soil, water, and the human body. The organism changes based on environmental conditions it encounters, which helps it survive and persist through changes in virulence-related traits like secreted factors, siderophores, and biofilm substances called extracellular polymeric substances (EPS).
One significant change that happens when the pathogen moves from its environment to a host is a change in temperature. However, scientists have not fully understood how temperature influences P. aeruginosa's overall behavior.
To examine this, researchers studied the effects of different temperatures on both single-celled (planktonic) and biofilm-forming P. aeruginosa populations. They compared growth at two environmental temperatures (23°C and 30°C) with growth at two host-associated temperatures (37°C and 40°C). The study found that temperature had a significant impact on virulence factors in both growth states.
Temperature at the environment increased the expression of the type VI secretion system, while host temperatures promoted pyoverdine biosynthesis and the type III secretion system.
Additionally, researchers discovered that biofilms formed at both environmental and host temperatures differ in structure, biomass, and EPS content. They then investigated how these structural differences affect the biofilms' ability to withstand stress. Biofilms grown at 23°C and 30°C were more resistant to antibiotic stress compared to biofilms grown at 37°C and 40°C.
This means that the temperature at which P. aeruginosa forms biofilms influences the biofilm's properties, which in turn impact its ability to resist stress.
In conclusion, the study reveals that temperature acts as a critical environmental factor that alters P. aeruginosa's physiology. By reprogramming the organism's traits based on the temperature, the pathogen can better adapt and persist in various ecological niches, including the human host.
Written by urgent.news from bioRxiv's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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