Open AccessPolysaccharides serve as scaffold of biofilms formed by mucoid P seudomonas aeruginosa
Author(s) -
Yang Liang,
Hengzhuang Wang,
Wu Hong,
Damkiær Søren,
Jochumsen Nicholas,
Song Zhijun,
Givskov Michael,
Høiby Niels,
Molin Søren
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2012.00936.x
Subject(s) - pseudomonas aeruginosa , biofilm , microbiology and biotechnology , polysaccharide , biology , immune system , cystic fibrosis , extracellular polysaccharide , bacteria , phagocytosis , immunology , biochemistry , genetics
Chronic lung infection by mucoid P seudomonas aeruginosa is one of the major pathologic features in patients with cystic fibrosis. Mucoid P . aeruginosa is notorious for its biofilm forming capability and resistance to immune attacks. In this study, the roles of extracellular polymeric substances from biofilms formed by mucoid P . aeruginosa were investigated. Alginate is not an essential structure component for mucoid P . aeruginosa biofilms. Genetic studies revealed that P el and P sl polysaccharides serve as essential scaffold and mediate macrocolony formation in mucoid P . aeruginosa biofilms. The P sl polysaccharide is more important than P el polysaccharide in mucoid P . aeruginosa biofilm structure maintenance and phagocytosis resistance. The polysaccharides were further found to protect mucoid P . aeruginosa strain from host immune clearance in a mouse model of acute lung infection.