J Bacteriol Virol.  2010 Jun;40(2):59-66. 10.4167/jbv.2010.40.2.59.

Anaerobiosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Implications for Treatments of Airway Infection

• Yoon SS

• KMID: 1456268
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4167/jbv.2010.40.2.59

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as an opportunistic pathogen, establishes a chronic infection in the respiratory track of patients suffering from pneumonia and bronchiectasis, including cystic fibrosis. Biofilm formation inside the oversecreted mucus layer lining the patient airway and production of virulence factors, a process controlled by quorum sensing, are considered to be the major virulence determinants in P. aeruginosa pathogenesis. Recently, an abnormally thickened mucus layer was proven to be anaerobic. Given the fact that currently used antibiotics are less effective under anaerobic environments, these new findings lead us to change the way we confront P. aeruginosa infection. This article reviews pathological features of patient airways that become susceptible to P. aeruginosa infection and bacterial adaptation that contributes to the prolonged survival inside the patient airway.

Keyword

Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Anaerobic environments; Biofilm; Quorum sensing

MeSH Terms

Anaerobiosis
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Biofilms
Bronchiectasis
Cystic Fibrosis
Humans
Mucus
Pneumonia
Pseudomonas
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Quorum Sensing
Stress, Psychological
Track and Field
Virulence Factors
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Virulence Factors

Figure

• 

  Figure 1. Schematic comparison between normal (A) and diseased (B) airway mucus environments. Maintenance of periciliary liquid layer (PLL) with constant depth and appropriate movement of the mucus layer on top of the PLL, which mediates the mucociliary clearance, is achieved in normal airways. In diseased states, however, PLL is depleted and an abnormally oversecreted (and thus, highly viscous) mucus layer is formed. This mucus layer is highly susceptible to bacterial colonization.

• 

  Figure 2. Aerobic (A) vs. anaerobic (B) respiratory pathways in P. aeruginosa. P. aeruginosa can use either oxygen or nitrate/nitrite as electron acceptors in the electron transport chain. NADH DH, NADH dehydrogenase; Cyt bc1, cytochrome bc1 complex; Cyt oxidase, cytochrome oxidase; NAR, nitrate (NO3–) reductase; NIR, nitrite (NO2–) reductase; NOR, nitric oxide reductase; N2OR, nitrous oxide (N2O) reductase.

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