Phenotypes selected during chronic lung infection in cystic fibrosis patients: implications for the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm infections

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

During chronic lung infection of patients with cystic fibrosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa can survive for long periods of time under the challenging selective pressure imposed by the immune system and antibiotic treatment as a result of its biofilm mode of growth and adaptive evolution mediated by genetic variation. Mucoidy, hypermutability and acquirement of mutational antibiotic resistance are important adaptive phenotypes that are selected during chronic P. aeruginosa infection. This review dicsusses the role played by these phenotypes for the tolerance of biofilms to antibiotics and show that mucoidy and hypermutability change the architecture of in vitro formed biofilms and lead to increase tolerance to antibiotics. Production of high levels of beta-lactamase impairs penetration of beta-lactam antibiotics due to inactivation of the antibiotic. In conclusion, these data underline the importance of biofilm prevention strategies by early aggressive antibiotic prophylaxis or therapy before phenotypic diversification during chronic lung infection of patients with cystic fibrosis.
Original languageEnglish
JournalF E M S Immunology and Medical Microbiology
Volume65
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)215-225
Number of pages11
ISSN0928-8244
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2012

    Research areas

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents, Biofilms, Chronic Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Humans, Lung, Phenotype, Pseudomonas Infections, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Selection, Genetic, beta-Lactams

ID: 49278578