Cytotoxic rhamnolipid micelles drive acute virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

ABSTRACT: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen that has developed multi- or even pan-drug resistance towards most frontline and last resort antibiotics, leading to increasing infections and deaths among hospitalized patients, especially those with compromised immune systems. Further complicating treatment, P. aeruginosa produces numerous virulence factors that contribute to host tissue damage and immune evasion, promoting bacterial colonization and pathogenesis. In this study, we demonstrate the importance of rhamnolipid production in host-pathogen interactions. Secreted rhamnolipids form micelles that exhibited highly acute toxicity towards murine macrophages, rupturing the plasma membrane and causing organellar membrane damage within minutes of exposure. While rh

SUBMITTER: Xu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10592815 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature