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A Delayed Inoculation Model of Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Wound Infection
06:56

A Delayed Inoculation Model of Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Wound Infection

Published on: February 20, 2020

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Filamentous bacteriophage delays healing of Pseudomonas-infected wounds

Michelle S Bach1, Christiaan R de Vries2, Arya Khosravi2

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Stanford Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.

Cell Reports. Medicine
|June 22, 2022
PubMed

Insights

A bacteriophage called Pf, produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa), delays chronic wound healing by directly inhibiting keratinocyte migration. This discovery suggests Pf could be a biomarker and therapeutic target for persistent wound infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Wound Healing Research
  • Bacteriophage Therapy

Background:

  • Chronic wounds infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) often show disease progression and higher mortality.
  • Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, are being investigated for their role in infection dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of a specific bacteriophage, Pf, produced by Pa, in the delayed healing of chronic wounds.
  • To elucidate the mechanism by which Pf affects wound closure, independent of its bacterial pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Pf's effect on wound closure in human and animal models.
  • Investigation of Pf's impact on keratinocyte migration and CXCL1 signaling.
  • A prospective cohort study of 36 human patients with chronic Pa wound infections.

Main Results:

  • Pf significantly delays chronic wound healing.
  • Pf impedes keratinocyte migration by directly inhibiting CXCL1 signaling, independent of Pa pathogenesis.
  • Human patients with Pf-positive Pa strains had wounds that progressed more in size compared to those with Pf-negative strains.

Conclusions:

  • The Pf bacteriophage directly manipulates mammalian cells, specifically inhibiting keratinocyte migration via CXCL1 signaling, leading to delayed wound healing.
  • Pf is implicated as a key factor in the delayed healing of chronic wounds infected by Pa.
  • Pf shows potential as a biomarker for wound progression and a therapeutic target for chronic wound infections.
Keywords:
PfPseudomonasbacteriophagefilamentous phageimmunologymicrobiologywounds

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