O-Specific Antigen-Dependent Surface Hydrophobicity Mediates Aggregate Assembly Type in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

ABSTRACT: Bacteria live in spatially organized aggregates during chronic infections, where they adapt to the host environment, evade immune responses, and resist therapeutic interventions. Although it is known that environmental factors such as polymers influence bacterial aggregation, it is not clear how bacterial adaptation during chronic infection impacts the formation and spatial organization of aggregates in the presence of polymers. Here, we show that in an in vitro model of cystic fibrosis (CF) containing the polymers extracellular DNA (eDNA) and mucin, O-specific antigen is a major factor determining the formation of two distinct aggregate assembly types of Pseudomonas aeruginosa due to alterations in cell surface hydrophobicity. Our findings suggest that during chronic infection, the

SUBMITTER: Azimi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8406328 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature