Discerning the complexity of community interactions using a Drosophila model of polymicrobial infections.

ABSTRACT: A number of human infections are characterized by the presence of more than one bacterial species and are defined as polymicrobial diseases. Methods for the analysis of the complex biological interactions in mixed infections with a large number of microorganisms are limited and do not effectively determine the contribution of each bacterial species to the pathogenesis of the polymicrobial community. We have developed a novel Drosophila melanogaster infection model to study microbe-microbe interactions and polymicrobe-host interactions. Using this infection model, we examined the interaction of 40 oropharyngeal isolates with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We observe three classes of microorganisms, one of which acts synergistically with the principal pathogen, while being avirulent or even benefic

SUBMITTER: Sibley CD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2566602 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature