ABSTRACT
Chronic
polymicrobial
infections
involving
Pseudomonas
aeruginosa
and
Staphylococcus
aureus
are
prevalent,
difficult
to
eradicate,
associated
with
poor
health
outcomes.
Therefore,
understanding
interactions
between
these
pathogens
is
important
inform
improved
treatment
development.
We
previously
demonstrated
that
P.
attracted
S.
using
type
IV
pili
(TFP)-mediated
chemotaxis,
but
the
impact
of
attraction
on
growth
physiology
remained
unknown.
Using
live
single-cell
confocal
imaging
visualize
microcolony
structure,
spatial
organization,
survival
during
coculture,
we
found
interspecies
chemotaxis
provides
a
competitive
advantage
by
promoting
invasion
into
disruption
microcolonies.
This
behavior
renders
susceptible
antimicrobials.
Conversely,
in
absence
TFP
motility,
cells
exhibit
reduced
colonies.
Instead,
builds
cellular
barrier
adjacent
secretes
diffusible,
bacteriostatic
antimicrobials
like
2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-
N
-oxide
(HQNO)
Reduced
leads
formation
denser
thicker
colonies
increased
HQNO-mediated
lactic
acid
fermentation,
physiological
change
could
complicate
strategies.
Finally,
show
motility
modifications
structure
enhance
competition
against
.
Overall,
studies
expand
our
how
TFP-mediated
facilitates
interactions,
highlighting
importance
positioning
mixed-species
communities.
IMPORTANCE
The
nature
many
chronic
makes
their
eradication
challenging.
Particularly,
coisolation
from
airways
people
cystic
fibrosis
wound
common
severe
clinical
complex
interplay
not
fully
understood,
need
for
continued
research
improve
management
infections.
Our
study
unveils
,
invades
neighboring
colonies,
anti-staphylococcal
factors
interior
colony.
Upon
inhibition
thus
invasion,
colony
architecture
changes
dramatically,
whereby
protected
antagonism
responds
through
alterations
may
further
hamper
treatment.
These
reinforce
accumulating
evidence
structuring
can
dictate
community
resilience
reveal
critical
drivers
competition.
PLoS Biology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
22(2), P. e3002205 - e3002205
Published: Feb. 1, 2024
Cells
must
access
resources
to
survive,
and
the
anatomy
of
multicellular
structures
influences
this
access.
In
diverse
eukaryotes,
are
provided
by
internal
conduits
that
allow
substances
travel
more
readily
through
tissue
than
they
would
via
diffusion.
Microbes
growing
in
structures,
called
biofilms,
also
affected
differential
we
hypothesized
is
influenced
physical
arrangement
cells.
study,
examined
microanatomy
biofilms
formed
pathogenic
bacterium
Pseudomonas
aeruginosa
discovered
clonal
cells
form
striations
packed
lengthwise
across
most
a
mature
biofilm’s
depth.
We
identified
mutants,
including
those
defective
pilus
function
O-antigen
attachment,
show
alterations
packing
phenotype.
Consistent
with
notion
cellular
affects
within
biofilm,
found
while
wild
type
shows
even
distribution
tested
substrates
depth,
mutants
accumulation
at
biofilm
boundaries.
Furthermore,
altered
localization
metabolic
activity,
survival
resident
cells,
susceptibility
subpopulations
antibiotic
treatment.
Our
observations
provide
insight
into
features
determine
microanatomy,
consequences
for
physiological
differentiation
drug
sensitivity.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
120(19)
Published: May 1, 2023
Laboratory
models
are
critical
to
basic
and
translational
microbiology
research.
Models
serve
multiple
purposes,
from
providing
tractable
systems
study
cell
biology
allowing
the
investigation
of
inaccessible
clinical
environmental
ecosystems.
Although
there
is
a
recognized
need
for
improved
model
systems,
gap
in
rational
approaches
accomplish
this
goal.
We
recently
developed
framework
assessing
accuracy
microbial
by
quantifying
how
closely
each
gene
expressed
natural
environment
various
models.
The
defined
as
percentage
genes
that
similarly
model.
Here,
we
leverage
develop
validate
two
generalizable
improving
accuracy,
proof
concept,
apply
these
improve
Pseudomonas
aeruginosa
infecting
cystic
fibrosis
(CF)
lung.
First,
identify
models,
an
vitro
synthetic
CF
sputum
medium
(SCFM2)
epithelial
model,
accurately
recapitulate
different
sets.
By
combining
cell-SCFM2
which
improves
over
500
genes.
Second,
specific
genes,
mined
publicly
available
transcriptome
data,
identified
zinc
limitation
cue
present
lung
absent
SCFM2.
Induction
SCFM2
resulted
accurate
expression
90%
P.
These
provide
generalizable,
quantitative
frameworks
microbiological
improvement
can
be
applied
any
system
interest.
Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
27, P. 488 - 500
Published: Jan. 1, 2025
Staphylococcus
aureus
(S.
aureus)
is
a
prevalent
pathogen
associated
with
wide
range
of
infections,
exhibiting
significant
antibiotic
resistance
and
posing
therapeutic
challenges
in
clinical
settings.
The
formation
biofilms
contributes
to
the
emergence
resistant
strains,
further
diminishing
efficacy
antibiotics.
This,
turn,
leads
chronic
recurrent
ultimately
increasing
healthcare
burden.
Consequently,
preventing
eliminating
has
become
critical
focus
management
research.
This
review
systematically
examines
mechanisms
underlying
biofilm
S.
its
contribution
resistance,
emphasizing
essential
roles
play
maintaining
structural
integrity
enhancing
resistance.
It
also
analyses
protective
that
fortify
against
antimicrobial
treatments.
Furthermore,
provides
comprehensive
overview
recent
innovations,
including
enzymatic
therapy,
nanotechnology,
gene
editing,
phage
therapy.
Emerging
strategies
present
novel
approaches
combat
biofilm-associated
infections
through
various
mechanisms.
discusses
advancements
these
therapies,
their
practical
application,
an
in-depth
analysis
each
strategy's
potential.
By
mapping
future
research
directions,
this
aims
refine
anti-biofilm
control
infection
progression
effectively
mitigate
recurrence.
Journal of Oral Microbiology,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
17(1)
Published: Feb. 25, 2025
Background
There
is
no
specific
cure
for
periodontitis
and
treatment
symptomatic,
primarily
by
physical
removal
of
the
subgingival
plaque
biofilm.
Current
non-surgical
periodontal
therapy
becomes
less
effective
as
pocket
depth
increases
such
new
adjunctive
treatments
are
required.
The
development
antibiotic
resistance
has
driven
a
recent
resurgence
interest
in
bacteriophage
therapy.
Clinical Microbiology Reviews,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
36(4)
Published: Oct. 9, 2023
SUMMARY
Our
knowledge
about
the
fundamental
aspects
of
biofilm
biology,
including
mechanisms
behind
reduced
antimicrobial
susceptibility
biofilms,
has
increased
drastically
over
last
decades.
However,
this
so
far
not
been
translated
into
major
changes
in
clinical
practice.
While
concept
is
increasingly
on
radar
microbiologists,
physicians,
and
healthcare
professionals
general,
standardized
tools
to
study
biofilms
microbiology
laboratory
are
still
lacking;
one
area
which
particularly
obvious
that
testing
(AST).
It
generally
accepted
lifestyle
a
tremendous
impact
antibiotic
susceptibility,
yet
AST
typically
carried
out
with
planktonic
cells.
On
top
that,
microenvironment
at
site
infection
an
important
driver
for
microbial
physiology
hence
susceptibility;
but
poorly
reflected
current
methods.
The
goal
review
provide
overview
state
art
concerning
highlight
gaps
area.
Subsequently,
potential
ways
improve
biofilm-based
will
be
discussed.
Finally,
bottlenecks
currently
preventing
use
practice,
as
well
steps
needed
get
past
these
bottlenecks,
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15(1)
Published: Aug. 31, 2024
Biofilm
formation
enhances
bacterial
survival
and
antibiotic
tolerance,
but
the
underlying
mechanisms
are
incompletely
understood.
Here,
we
show
that
biofilm
growth
is
accompanied
by
a
reduction
in
energy
metabolism
membrane
potential,
together
with
metabolic
exchanges
between
inner
outer
regions
biofilms.
More
specifically,
nutrient-starved
cells
interior
supply
amino
acids
to
periphery,
while
peripheral
experience
decrease
potential
provide
fatty
cells.
Fatty
facilitate
repair
of
starvation-induced
damage
enhance
their
presence
antibiotics.
Thus,
contribute
tolerance
within
biofilm.
tolerance.
authors
biofilms
interior.
Critical Reviews in Microbiology,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
50(5), P. 830 - 858
Published: Nov. 15, 2023
can
efficiently
adapt
to
changing
environmental
conditions
due
its
ubiquitous
nature,
intrinsic/acquired/adaptive
resistance
mechanisms,
high
metabolic
versatility,
and
the
production
of
numerous
virulence
factors.
As
a
result,