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Viscoelastic properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa variant biofilms

Viscoelastic properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa variant biofilms
Viscoelastic properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa variant biofilms
Pseudomonas aeruginosa evolves during chronic pulmonary infections of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, forming pathoadapted variants that are persistent. Mucoid and rugose small-colony variants (RSCVs) are typically isolated from sputum of CF patients. These variants overproduce exopolysaccharides in the biofilm extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). Currently, changes to the biophysical properties of RSCV and mucoid biofilms due to variations in EPS are not well understood. This knowledge may reveal how lung infections resist host clearance mechanisms. Here, we used mechanical indentation and shear rheometry to analyse the viscoelasticity of RSCV and mucoid colony-biofilms compared to their isogenic parent at 2-, 4-, and 6-d. While the viscoelasticity of parental colony-biofilms underwent fluctuating temporal changes, in contrast, RSCV and mucoid colony-biofilms showed a gradual progression to more elastic-solid behaviour. Theoretical indices of mucociliary and cough clearance predict that mature 6-d parental and RSCV biofilms may show reduced cough clearance from the lung, while early mucoid biofilms may show reduced clearance by both mechanisms. We propose that viscoelasticity be considered a virulence property of biofilms.
Gloag, Erin S.
36de1738-c25d-4eb7-acd3-1ad55d9a7cee
German, Guy K.
03927a48-20f0-4c1a-9283-16d2741fbd14
Stoodley, Paul
08614665-92a9-4466-806e-20c6daeb483f
Wozniak, Daniel J.
bfa8e8e5-5929-449b-af6a-ec2d86c47eb5
Gloag, Erin S.
36de1738-c25d-4eb7-acd3-1ad55d9a7cee
German, Guy K.
03927a48-20f0-4c1a-9283-16d2741fbd14
Stoodley, Paul
08614665-92a9-4466-806e-20c6daeb483f
Wozniak, Daniel J.
bfa8e8e5-5929-449b-af6a-ec2d86c47eb5

Gloag, Erin S., German, Guy K., Stoodley, Paul and Wozniak, Daniel J. (2018) Viscoelastic properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa variant biofilms. Scientific Reports, 8, [9691]. (doi:10.1038/s41598-018-28009-5).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa evolves during chronic pulmonary infections of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, forming pathoadapted variants that are persistent. Mucoid and rugose small-colony variants (RSCVs) are typically isolated from sputum of CF patients. These variants overproduce exopolysaccharides in the biofilm extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). Currently, changes to the biophysical properties of RSCV and mucoid biofilms due to variations in EPS are not well understood. This knowledge may reveal how lung infections resist host clearance mechanisms. Here, we used mechanical indentation and shear rheometry to analyse the viscoelasticity of RSCV and mucoid colony-biofilms compared to their isogenic parent at 2-, 4-, and 6-d. While the viscoelasticity of parental colony-biofilms underwent fluctuating temporal changes, in contrast, RSCV and mucoid colony-biofilms showed a gradual progression to more elastic-solid behaviour. Theoretical indices of mucociliary and cough clearance predict that mature 6-d parental and RSCV biofilms may show reduced cough clearance from the lung, while early mucoid biofilms may show reduced clearance by both mechanisms. We propose that viscoelasticity be considered a virulence property of biofilms.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 5 June 2018
e-pub ahead of print date: 26 June 2018

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 421948
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/421948
PURE UUID: 3a0c2c40-92b0-4abf-8dd9-c0ea0fdb9fc9
ORCID for Paul Stoodley: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-6069-273X

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Date deposited: 11 Jul 2018 16:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 06:41

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Contributors

Author: Erin S. Gloag
Author: Guy K. German
Author: Paul Stoodley ORCID iD
Author: Daniel J. Wozniak

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