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Interference of Pseudomonas aeruginosa signalling and biofilm formation for infection control

Thomas Bjarnsholt1, Tim Tolker-Nielsen, Niels Høiby

  • 1Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.

Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine
|April 8, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses quorum sensing (QS) to form biofilms, leading to antibiotic tolerance and chronic infections. Future research must link in vitro findings to in vivo behavior for effective treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a well-studied bacterium.
  • It is known for quorum sensing (QS), biofilm formation, and antibiotic tolerance.
  • P. aeruginosa biofilms cause chronic infections, notably in wounds and cystic fibrosis lung infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the molecular mechanisms of QS, QS-enabled virulence, and biofilm formation.
  • To discuss biofilm-enabled antibiotic tolerance.
  • To highlight the gap between in vitro knowledge and in vivo application for P. aeruginosa infections.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms underlying QS and biofilm development.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on antibiotic tolerance in P. aeruginosa biofilms.

Main Results:

  • Detailed understanding of QS molecular mechanisms in P. aeruginosa.
  • Established link between QS, virulence, and biofilm formation.
  • Significant antibiotic tolerance observed in P. aeruginosa biofilms.

Conclusions:

  • Substantial in vitro knowledge exists regarding P. aeruginosa multicellular behavior.
  • A critical need exists to correlate in vitro data with in vivo P. aeruginosa behavior.
  • Developing effective treatments for chronic P. aeruginosa infections requires bridging this in vitro-in vivo gap.

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