The great divide: rhamnolipids mediate separation between P. aeruginosa and S. aureus.

ABSTRACT: The interactions between bacterial species during infection can have significant impacts on pathogenesis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are opportunistic bacterial pathogens that can co-infect hosts and cause serious illness. The factors that dictate whether one species outcompetes the other or whether the two species coexist are not fully understood. We investigated the role of surfactants in the interactions between these two species on a surface that enables P. aeruginosa to swarm. We found that P. aeruginosa swarms are repelled by colonies of clinical S. aureus isolates, creating physical separation between the two strains. This effect was abolished in mutants of S. aureus that were defective in the production of phenol-solub

SUBMITTER: Bru JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10540625 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature