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

TY - JOUR

T1 - Pseudomonas aeruginosa recognizes and responds aggressively to the presence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes

AU - Alhede, Morten

AU - Bjarnsholt, Thomas

AU - Jensen, Peter Østrup

AU - Phipps, Richard Kerry

AU - Moser, Claus

AU - Christophersen, Lars

AU - Hultqvist, Louise Dahl

AU - van Gennip, Maria

AU - Parsek, Matt

AU - Høiby, Niels

AU - Rasmussen, Thomas Bovbjerg

AU - Givskov, Michael

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Animals

KW - Biofilms

KW - Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid

KW - DNA, Bacterial

KW - Dynorphins

KW - Female

KW - Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial

KW - Glycolipids

KW - Lung Diseases

KW - Mice

KW - Mice, Inbred BALB C

KW - Neutrophils

KW - Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

KW - Pseudomonas Infections

KW - Pseudomonas aeruginosa

KW - Quorum Sensing

KW - Virulence

U2 - 10.1099/mic.0.031443-0

DO - 10.1099/mic.0.031443-0

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19643762

SN - 1350-0872

VL - 155

SP - 3500

EP - 3508

JO - Microbiology

JF - Microbiology

IS - 11

ER -