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Gene expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms

Gene expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms Bacteria often adopt a sessile biofilm lifestyle that is resistant to antimicrobial treatment 1,2,3,4,5 . Opportunistic pathogenic bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa can develop persistent infections 1,2,3 . To gain insights into the differences between free-living P. aeruginosa cells and those in biofilms, and into the mechanisms underlying the resistance of biofilms to antibiotics, we used DNA microarrays. Here we show that, despite the striking differences in lifestyles, only about 1% of genes showed differential expression in the two growth modes; about 0.5% of genes were activated and about 0.5% were repressed in biofilms. Some of the regulated genes are known to affect antibiotic sensitivity of free-living P. aeruginosa. Exposure of biofilms to high levels of the antibiotic tobramycin caused differential expression of 20 genes. We propose that this response is critical for the development of biofilm resistance to tobramycin. Our results show that gene expression in biofilm cells is similar to that in free-living cells but there are a small number of significant differences. Our identification of biofilm-regulated genes points to mechanisms of biofilm resistance to antibiotics. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Nature Springer Journals

Gene expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms

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References (58)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2001 by Macmillan Magazines Ltd.
Subject
Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, multidisciplinary; Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, multidisciplinary; Science, multidisciplinary
ISSN
0028-0836
eISSN
1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/35101627
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Bacteria often adopt a sessile biofilm lifestyle that is resistant to antimicrobial treatment 1,2,3,4,5 . Opportunistic pathogenic bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa can develop persistent infections 1,2,3 . To gain insights into the differences between free-living P. aeruginosa cells and those in biofilms, and into the mechanisms underlying the resistance of biofilms to antibiotics, we used DNA microarrays. Here we show that, despite the striking differences in lifestyles, only about 1% of genes showed differential expression in the two growth modes; about 0.5% of genes were activated and about 0.5% were repressed in biofilms. Some of the regulated genes are known to affect antibiotic sensitivity of free-living P. aeruginosa. Exposure of biofilms to high levels of the antibiotic tobramycin caused differential expression of 20 genes. We propose that this response is critical for the development of biofilm resistance to tobramycin. Our results show that gene expression in biofilm cells is similar to that in free-living cells but there are a small number of significant differences. Our identification of biofilm-regulated genes points to mechanisms of biofilm resistance to antibiotics.

Journal

Nature – Springer Journals

Published: Oct 25, 2001

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