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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
06:04
Modeling Persistent Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection in Wounded Zebrafish Larvae
Published on: June 13, 2025
Intracellular Pseudomonas aeruginosa: internalization and survival
Alejandro Tejada-Arranz1, Varun Sunder1, Marek Basler1
1Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Trends in Microbiology
|August 7, 2026
Summary
Pseudomonas aeruginosa can survive inside human cells, creating a reservoir that may lead to chronic infections and relapse. Understanding this intracellular behavior is key to developing new treatments for persistent P. aeruginosa infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pathogenesis
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen causing chronic infections with high relapse rates.
- Intracellular survival of P. aeruginosa within host cells offers protection from immune responses and certain antibiotics.
- The intracellular life cycle and niche establishment of P. aeruginosa remain poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the interactions between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and eukaryotic cells.
- To elucidate the role of protein secretion systems in the intracellular survival of P. aeruginosa.
- To understand the contribution of intracellular reservoirs to chronic P. aeruginosa infections.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on Pseudomonas aeruginosa-eukaryotic cell interactions.
- Analysis of research on bacterial protein secretion machineries.
- Synthesis of findings related to intracellular bacterial reservoirs.
Main Results:
- P. aeruginosa can survive intracellularly in various human cell types, including patient-derived biopsies.
- Intracellular bacteria are shielded from host immunity and some antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones.
- Protein secretion systems play a role in P. aeruginosa establishing an intracellular niche.
Conclusions:
- Intracellular reservoirs of P. aeruginosa are a plausible mechanism for chronic infections and relapse.
- Further research into the intracellular life cycle is crucial for therapeutic development.
- Targeting P. aeruginosa's interaction with eukaryotic cells and its secretion systems may offer new treatment strategies.
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