Detection of N-acylhomoserine lactones in lung tissues of mice infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa

TY - JOUR

T1 - Detection of N-acylhomoserine lactones in lung tissues of mice infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa

AU - Wu, H

AU - Song, Z

AU - Hentzer, Morten

AU - Andersen, Jens Bo

AU - Heydorn, Arne

AU - Mathee, K

AU - Moser, C

AU - Eberl, Leo

AU - Molin, Søren

AU - Høiby, N

AU - Givskov, M

PY - 2000

Y1 - 2000

N2 - The pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is associated with expression of virulence factors, many of which are controlled by two N:-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL)-based quorum-sensing systems. Escherichia coli strains equipped with a luxR-based monitor system expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the presence of exogenous AHL molecules were used to detect the production of AHLs from P. aeruginosa in vivo. Mice were challenged intratracheally with alginate beads containing P. aeruginosa and E. coli and killed on different days after the challenge. By means of confocal scanning laser microscopy, GFP-expressing E. coli bacteria could be detected in the lung tissues, indicating production and excretion of AHL molecules in vivo by the infecting P. aeruginosa. AHL signals were detected mainly in lung tissues exhibiting severe pathological changes. These findings support the view that expression of AHL molecules by P. aeruginosa during infection coincides with its pathogenesis.

AB - The pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is associated with expression of virulence factors, many of which are controlled by two N:-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL)-based quorum-sensing systems. Escherichia coli strains equipped with a luxR-based monitor system expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the presence of exogenous AHL molecules were used to detect the production of AHLs from P. aeruginosa in vivo. Mice were challenged intratracheally with alginate beads containing P. aeruginosa and E. coli and killed on different days after the challenge. By means of confocal scanning laser microscopy, GFP-expressing E. coli bacteria could be detected in the lung tissues, indicating production and excretion of AHL molecules in vivo by the infecting P. aeruginosa. AHL signals were detected mainly in lung tissues exhibiting severe pathological changes. These findings support the view that expression of AHL molecules by P. aeruginosa during infection coincides with its pathogenesis.

KW - 4-Butyrolactone

KW - Animals

KW - Cystic Fibrosis

KW - Disease Models, Animal

KW - Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial

KW - Green Fluorescent Proteins

KW - Humans

KW - Luminescent Proteins

KW - Lung

KW - Mice

KW - Mice, Inbred CBA

KW - Pseudomonas Infections

KW - Pseudomonas aeruginosa

KW - Signal Transduction

U2 - 10.1099/00221287-146-10-2481

DO - 10.1099/00221287-146-10-2481

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 11021924

SN - 1350-0872

VL - 146 ( Pt 10)

SP - 2481

EP - 2493

JO - Microbiology

JF - Microbiology

ER -