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Effects of characterised Pseudomonas aeruginosa exopolysaccharides on adherence to human tracheal cells

N Marty1, C Pasquier, J L Dournes

  • 1Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France.

Journal of Medical Microbiology
|January 8, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Pseudomonas aeruginosa exopolysaccharides (EPS) mediate bacterial adherence to human respiratory cells. Neutral polysaccharides in EPS may act as ligands for P. aeruginosa attachment to cystic fibrosis cells.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen frequently isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and bronchiectasis.
  • Bacterial adherence to host epithelial cells is a critical step in establishing infection.
  • Exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by P. aeruginosa are known to play a role in biofilm formation and host-pathogen interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of different Pseudomonas aeruginosa exopolysaccharides (EPS) in mediating adherence to human respiratory epithelial cells.
  • To compare the adherence of mucoid and non-mucoid P. aeruginosa strains from cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis patients to normal and CF tracheal epithelial cells.
  • To elucidate the chemical composition of EPS and its contribution to bacterial adherence.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro adherence assays using human tracheal epithelial cell lines from CF and normal fetuses.
  • Isolation and characterization of mucoid and non-mucoid isogenic pairs of P. aeruginosa strains from CF and bronchiectasis patients.
  • Chemical characterization of exopolysaccharides (EPS) from different P. aeruginosa strains.
  • Additive inhibition experiments using chemically characterized EPS.

Main Results:

  • Human CF tracheal epithelial cells exhibited significantly higher binding of P. aeruginosa compared to normal cells.
  • P. aeruginosa strains from bronchiectasis patients showed greater adherence than CF strains, particularly the non-mucoid variants on normal epithelial cells.
  • The chemical composition of EPS differed between CF (alginate-rich) and bronchiectasis (neutral polysaccharide-rich) strains.
  • Neutral polysaccharides associated with alginate were identified as potential ligands for P. aeruginosa adherence to CF epithelial cells.

Conclusions:

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa exopolysaccharides play a significant role in bacterial adherence to respiratory epithelial cells.
  • The composition of EPS, specifically the presence of neutral polysaccharides, influences the adherence of P. aeruginosa to CF epithelial cells.
  • Understanding these interactions can inform strategies for managing P. aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis patients.

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