Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is capable of causing a variety of chronic infections due to the formation of biofilms. Iron is essential for growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and therapies that interfere with iron may help treat P. aeruginosa infections. Herein, we investigated whether artesunate, which is a type of iron-dependent drug, could influence Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation and structure, including the underlying mechanisms. Artesunate could enhance twitching motility significantly and decrease the proportion of surviving cells in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms in a dose-dependent manner. Artesunate treatment also reduced biofilm thickness, diffusion in the biomass, and the content of Fe(II). However, changes in biofilm structure and ion concentration were very similar following treatment with 512 μg/ml and 1024 μg/ml artesunate. Interestingly, both biofilm structure and surviving cell fraction were recovered after iron supplementation. These results suggest that artesunate interferes with Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms by decreasing bacterial viability and enhancing twitching motility in an iron-independent manner.
Highlights
Pseudomonas aeruginosais an ubiquitous Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that has the ability to thrive in most natural and man-made environments [1]
Twitch motility is an important step in the formation of microscopic bacterial colonies and biofilms
We found iron ions in bio lms mainly existed in the form of reduced divalent iron [25]
Summary
Pseudomonas aeruginosais an ubiquitous Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that has the ability to thrive in most natural and man-made environments [1]. It is responsible for chronic lung infections in over 90% of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients [2]. Patients in intensive care units were vulnerable to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which accounts for ∼200,000 nosocomial infections per year worldwide [3]. Us, there is an urgent need to develop alternative treatment regimens to treat/cure infections and improve disease prognosis. The dependence of bacteria on iron acquisition for biofilm formation has led to its identification as a novel therapeutic to eliminate Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections within the host, for CF patients
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