TY - JOUR
T1 - Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms
T2 - Host response and clinical implications in lung infections
AU - Maurice, Nicholas M.
AU - Bedi, Brahmchetna
AU - Sadikot, Ruxana T.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by Veterans Affairs merit award funding, Emory University Department of Medicine funding, and National Institutes of Health T32 funding.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2018 by the American Thoracic Society.
PY - 2018/4
Y1 - 2018/4
N2 - Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major health challenge that causes recalcitrant multidrug-resistant infections, especially in immunocompromised and hospitalized patients. P. aeruginosa is an important cause of nosocomial and ventilator-associated pneumonia characterized by high prevalence and fatality rates. P. aeruginosa also causes chronic lung infections in individuals with cystic fibrosis. Multidrug- and totally drug-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa are increasing threats that contribute to high mortality in these patients. The pathogenesis of many P. aeruginosa infections depends on its ability to form biofilms, structured bacterial communities that can coat mucosal surfaces or invasive devices. These biofilms make conditions more favorable for bacterial persistence, as embedded bacteria are inherently more difficult to eradicate than planktonic bacteria. The molecular mechanisms that underlie P. aeruginosa biofilm pathogenesis and the host response to P. aeruginosa biofilms remain to be fully defined. However, it is known that biofilms offer protection from the host immune response and are also extremely recalcitrant to antimicrobial therapy. Therefore, development of novel therapeutic strategies specifically aimed at biofilms is urgently needed. Here, we review the host response, key clinical implications of P. aeruginosa biofilms, and novel therapeutic approaches to treat biofilms relevant to lung infections. Greater understanding of P. aeruginosa biofilms will elucidate novel avenues to improve outcomes for P. aeruginosa pulmonary infections.
AB - Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major health challenge that causes recalcitrant multidrug-resistant infections, especially in immunocompromised and hospitalized patients. P. aeruginosa is an important cause of nosocomial and ventilator-associated pneumonia characterized by high prevalence and fatality rates. P. aeruginosa also causes chronic lung infections in individuals with cystic fibrosis. Multidrug- and totally drug-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa are increasing threats that contribute to high mortality in these patients. The pathogenesis of many P. aeruginosa infections depends on its ability to form biofilms, structured bacterial communities that can coat mucosal surfaces or invasive devices. These biofilms make conditions more favorable for bacterial persistence, as embedded bacteria are inherently more difficult to eradicate than planktonic bacteria. The molecular mechanisms that underlie P. aeruginosa biofilm pathogenesis and the host response to P. aeruginosa biofilms remain to be fully defined. However, it is known that biofilms offer protection from the host immune response and are also extremely recalcitrant to antimicrobial therapy. Therefore, development of novel therapeutic strategies specifically aimed at biofilms is urgently needed. Here, we review the host response, key clinical implications of P. aeruginosa biofilms, and novel therapeutic approaches to treat biofilms relevant to lung infections. Greater understanding of P. aeruginosa biofilms will elucidate novel avenues to improve outcomes for P. aeruginosa pulmonary infections.
KW - Anti-infective agents
KW - Biofilms
KW - Cystic fibrosis
KW - Pseudomonas aeruginosa
KW - Ventilator-associated pneumonia
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U2 - 10.1165/rcmb.2017-0321TR
DO - 10.1165/rcmb.2017-0321TR
M3 - Editorial
C2 - 29372812
AN - SCOPUS:85045204747
SN - 1044-1549
VL - 58
SP - 428
EP - 439
JO - American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology
JF - American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology
IS - 4
ER -