Stenotrophomonas maltophilia virulence and specific variations in trace elements during acute lung infection:

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Arianna Pompilio1, Domenico Ciavardelli2, Valentina Crocetta1

  • 1Clinical Microbiology Unit, Center of Excellence on Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University Foundation, Chieti, Italy ; Department of Experimental and Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.

Plos One
|March 4, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection alters lung metal ion balance, with increased Mg, P, K, Zn, Se, Rb and decreased Mn, Fe, Co, Cu. A virulent cystic fibrosis strain caused more significant ion changes.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Trace Element Research

Background:

  • Metal ions are crucial for immune function and host-bacterial interactions.
  • Ionic dyshomeostasis is observed in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, often colonized by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.
  • Pulmonary infections can disrupt the delicate balance of essential trace elements.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze spatial and temporal changes in lung trace elements during S. maltophilia infection.
  • To compare the impact of a CF strain versus an environmental strain on pulmonary ionomics.
  • To investigate the relationship between element changes, bacterial load, and inflammation.

Main Methods:

  • Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for trace element analysis.
  • Infection of DBA/2 mouse lungs with S. maltophilia (CF and environmental strains).
  • Comparative analysis of ionomic profiles at different time points post-infection.

Main Results:

  • S. maltophilia infection significantly altered lung ionomic profiles.
  • Increased levels of Mg, P, S, K, Zn, Se, Rb and decreased levels of Mn, Fe, Co, Cu were observed.
  • A more virulent CF strain induced greater perturbations in metal homeostasis, including exclusive increases in P and K, and decreases in Fe and Mn.

Conclusions:

  • S. maltophilia modulates pulmonary metal balance in a virulence-dependent manner.
  • Element dyshomeostasis may play a role in exacerbating CF lung disease.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the biological significance of these ion alterations.

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