tools-for-real-time-assessment-pseudomonas-aeruginosa-infection

Tools for the Real-Time Assessment of a <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> Infection Model

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) is one of the most common opportunistic pathogens associated with cystic fibrosis (CF). Once Pa colonization is established, a ...

Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida

The survival rates of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) have significantly increased as a result of improved therapies, such as the inclusion of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators for some mutations. However, microbial infection of the airways remains a significant clinical problem. The well-known pathogens  and  continue to establish difficult-to-treat infections in the CF lung. However, in recent years, there has been an increased prevalence of both  () and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) species isolated from CF patient sputa. The emergence of these pathogens opens an important area of discussion about multikingdom infections, specifically, how interspecies interactions have the potential to shape the course of infection, such as tolerance to host immune defenses and antimicrobial therapies. Their ability to establish themselves in an existing polymicrobial environment suggests to us that microbial interactions play a significant role, and characterizing these mechanisms and understanding their implications will be critical to the future development of better antimicrobial therapies. With this minireview, we hope to inspire conversations about and demonstrate the merit of more research in this area. Incidences of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and  have increased around the world over the past decade and have become a significant health threat to immunocompromised individuals such as those with cystic fibrosis (CF). CF is characterized by the buildup of mucus in the lungs which become chronically infected by a myriad of pathogens. The emergence of these pathogens in established infection sites raises many questions about the microbial ecosystems they become a part of, specifically how changes in these ecosystems impact disease outcomes. Understanding how microbial communities establish and maintain themselves despite medical treatment and host immune defenses will be critical for the development of improved therapeutic strategies.

Sophie E. Darch

Department of Molecular Medicine

Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida

Tools for the Real-Time Assessment of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection Model