Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen causing devastating acute and chronic infections in individuals with compromised immune systems. Its highly notorious persistence in clinical settings is attributed to its ability to form antibiotic-resistant biofilms. Biofilm is an architecture built mostly by autogenic extracellular polymeric substances which function as a scaffold to encase the bacteria together on surfaces, and to protect them from environmental stresses, impedes phagocytosis and thereby conferring the capacity for colonization and long-term persistence. Here we review the current knowledge on P. aeruginosa biofilms, its development stages, and molecular mechanisms of invasion and persistence conferred by biofilms. Explosive cell lysis within bacterial biofilm to produce essential communal materials, and interspecies biofilms of P. aeruginosa and commensal Streptococcus which impedes P. aeruginosa virulence and possibly improves disease conditions will also be discussed. Recent research on diagnostics of P. aeruginosa infections will be investigated. Finally, therapeutic strategies for the treatment of P. aeruginosa biofilms along with their advantages and limitations will be compiled.
Highlights
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an ubiquitous Gram-negative bacterium that causes nosocomial infections, as well as fatal infections in immunocompromised individuals, such as patients with cancer, post-surgery, severe burns or infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [1,2,3]
Antimicrobial treatments of P. aeruginosa infections are still challenging which is mostly due to the ability of P. aeruginosa to form dense and persistent biofilms
Biofilms of P. aeruginosa are composed of polysaccharides (Pel, Psl and alginate) and extracellular DNA that play critical roles in protecting the bacterial communities from exogenous stresses caused by antimicrobial agents
Summary
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an ubiquitous Gram-negative bacterium that causes nosocomial infections, as well as fatal infections in immunocompromised individuals, such as patients with cancer, post-surgery, severe burns or infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [1,2,3]. Common antimicrobial agents like antibiotics frequently exhibit limited efficacy due to adaptability and high intrinsic antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa, increasing mortality [5]. Treatment of these infections is hindered by the P. aeruginosa ability to form biofilms which protect them from surrounding environmental stresses, impedes phagocytosis and thereby confers capacity for colonization and long-term persistence [6]. Such ability is promoted by effective cell-to-cell communications within the microbial communities of P. aeruginosa known as quorum sensing. In the context of challenges facing P. aeruginosa devastating infections, recent diagnostics and therapeutic strategies will be discussed
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