The role of multispecies social interactions in shaping Pseudomonas aeruginosa pathogenicity in the cystic fibrosis lung

• Published in: FEMS microbiology letters Vol. 364; no. 15
• Main Authors: O'Brien, Siobhán, Fothergill, Joanne L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 15.08.2017
• Subjects: Anaerobic bacteria; Anaerobic microorganisms; Aspergillus fumigatus - isolation & purification; Aspergillus fumigatus - physiology; Biofilms; Burkholderia; Coinfection - physiopathology; Communities; Cystic fibrosis; Cystic Fibrosis - complications; Cystic Fibrosis - microbiology; Editor's Choice; Fungi; Gram-negative bacteria; Humans; Lung - microbiology; Lung - physiopathology; Lungs; Microbiology; Microbiomes; Microbiota; Microorganisms; Minireview; Pathogenicity; Pathogens; Pathogens & Pathogenicity; Phenazines - metabolism; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - metabolism; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - pathogenicity; Pseudomonas Infections - microbiology; Secretions; Siderophores; Siderophores - metabolism; Social behavior; Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification; Staphylococcus aureus - physiology; Virulence; Viruses - isolation & purification; interspecific interactions: multispecies interactions; microbial communities; microbiome; cystic fibrosis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• ISSN: 1574-6968; 0378-1097; 1574-6968
• DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnx128

Abstract Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major pathogen in the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. However, it is now recognised that a diverse microbial community exists in the airways comprising aerobic and anaerobic bacteria as well as fungi and viruses. This rich soup of microorganisms provides ample opportunity for interspecies interactions, particularly when considering secreted compounds. Here, we discuss how P. aeruginosa-secreted products can have community-wide effects, with the potential to ultimately shape microbial community dynamics within the lung. We focus on three well-studied traits associated with worsening clinical outcome in CF: phenazines, siderophores and biofilm formation, and discuss how secretions can shape interactions between P. aeruginosa and other commonly encountered members of the lung microbiome: Staphylococcus aureus, the Burkholderia cepacia complex, Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus. These interactions may shape the evolutionary trajectory of P. aeruginosa while providing new opportunities for therapeutic exploitation of the CF lung microbiome. How social interactions among microbes living in the cystic fibrosis lung may be influencing patient health.