Pseudomonas aeruginosa recognizes and responds aggressively to the presence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Morten Alhede, Thomas Bjarnsholt, Peter Østrup Jensen, Richard Kerry Phipps, Claus Moser, Lars Christophersen, Louise Dahl Hultqvist, Maria van Gennip, Matt Parsek, Niels Høiby, Thomas Bovbjerg Rasmussen, Michael Givskov

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    184 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes (PMNs) play a central role in innate immunity, where they dominate the response to infections, in particular in the cystic fibrosis lung. PMNs are phagocytic cells that produce a wide range of antimicrobial agents aimed at killing invading bacteria. However, the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa can evade destruction by PMNs and thus cause persistent infections. In this study, we show that biofilm cells of P. aeruginosa recognize the presence of attracted PMNs and direct this information to their fellow bacteria through the quorum sensing (QS) signalling system. The bacteria respond to the presence of PMNs by upregulating synthesis of a number of QS-controlled virulence determinants including rhamnolipids, all of which are able to cripple and eliminate cells of the host defence. Our in vitro and in vivo analyses support a 'launch a shield' model by which rhamnolipids surround the biofilm bacteria and on contact eliminate incoming PMNs. Our data strengthen the view that cross-kingdom communication plays a key role in P. aeruginosa recognition and evasion of the host defence.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalMicrobiology
    Volume155
    Issue number11
    Pages (from-to)3500-3508
    Number of pages9
    ISSN1350-0872
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2009

    Keywords

    • Animals
    • Biofilms
    • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
    • DNA, Bacterial
    • Dynorphins
    • Female
    • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
    • Glycolipids
    • Lung Diseases
    • Mice
    • Mice, Inbred BALB C
    • Neutrophils
    • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
    • Pseudomonas Infections
    • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
    • Quorum Sensing
    • Virulence

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