<i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> biofilm-deficient mutants undergo parallel adaptation during chronic infection.

ABSTRACT: Pseudomonas aeruginosa readily adapts to infection by acquiring stable and heritable mutations. Previously, we discovered that the first adaptations in a porcine wound model were rugose small-colony variants (RSCVs) caused by mutations in the wsp operon. These mutants overproduce Pel and Psl biofilm exopolysaccharides that improve defense against host responses. To identify other mechanisms of host adaptation that lead to hyperbiofilm phenotypes, we created a mutant with an activated wsp pathway but unable to produce these exopolysaccharides (ΔwspFΔpelAΔpslBCD). Porcine wounds were infected with this mutant and biopsies were sampled at days 7, 14 and 35. Small colony variants were isolated from the wound, and whole genome sequencing revealed these

SUBMITTER: Gloag ES 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12458226 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature