Adaptation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the chronic phenotype by mutations in the algTmucABD operon in isolates from Brazilian cystic fibrosis patients

Natália Candido Caçador*, Carolina Paulino da Costa Capizzani, Lídia Alice Gomes Monteiro Marin Torres, Renata Galetti, Oana Ciofu, Ana Lúcia da Costa Darini, Niels Høiby

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

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    Abstract

    Chronic lung infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. This is associated with the conversion of the non-mucoid to the mucoid phenotype. However, there is little information about the occurrence of alginate-producing P. aeruginosa in CF patients outside Europe and North America. The aim of the present study was to investigate mutations in the algTmucABD operon in mucoid and non-mucoid isolates from Brazilian CF patients. Twenty-seven mucoid and 37 non-mucoid isolates from 40 CF patients chronically infected by P. aeruginosa attending a CF reference center in Brazil were evaluated by sequence analysis. Mutations in mucA were observed in 93% of the mucoid isolates and 54% of the non-mucoid isolates. Among these non-mucoid isolates, 55% were considered revertants, since they also had mutations in algT (algU). Most isolates associated with moderate alginate production presented point mutations in mucB and/or mucD. We identified 30 mutations not previously described in the operon. In conclusion, mutations in mucA were the main mechanism of conversion to mucoidy, and most of the non-mucoid isolates were revertants, but the mechanism of revertance is not fully explained by changes in algT.

    OriginalsprogEngelsk
    Artikelnummere0208013
    TidsskriftPLoS ONE
    Vol/bind13
    Udgave nummer11
    Antal sider11
    ISSN1932-6203
    DOI
    StatusUdgivet - 2018

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