Modeling Persistent Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection in Wounded Zebrafish Larvae

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Zebrafish Models

Background:

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant pathogen causing difficult-to-treat chronic wound and pulmonary infections, especially in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.
• Current antibiotic treatments are often ineffective against chronic bacterial infections, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies.
• Developing reliable in vivo models is essential for screening potential drugs against persistent infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a novel zebrafish larvae model for persistent Pseudomonas aeruginosa wound infections.
• To utilize a clinical isolate expressing Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) for tracking bacterial burden.
• To assess the potential of this model for evaluating antibiotic efficacy against chronic infections.

Main Methods:

• Zebrafish embryos were infected with a GFP-expressing P. aeruginosa clinical isolate via tail fin injury and immersion.
• Larvae were washed and monitored for bacterial load over 3 days post-infection.
• Bacterial burden was quantified daily by counting fluorescent colony-forming units (CFU) from lysed larvae.

Main Results:

• The protocol successfully generated a persistent P. aeruginosa wound infection in zebrafish larvae.
• Quantification of GFP-labeled bacteria confirmed a sustained bacterial burden over the observation period.
• The persistent P. aeruginosa infection in this model demonstrated resistance to antibiotic treatment.

Conclusions:

• This study presents a validated in vivo zebrafish model for persistent P. aeruginosa wound infections.
• The model effectively simulates chronic infection characteristics, including antibiotic refractoriness.
• This platform provides a valuable tool for screening and developing new treatments for chronic P. aeruginosa infections.