The innate immune protein calprotectin promotes Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus interaction.

ABSTRACT: Microorganisms form biofilms containing differentiated cell populations. To determine factors driving differentiation, we herein visualize protein and metal distributions within Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms using imaging mass spectrometry. These in vitro experiments reveal correlations between differential protein distribution and metal abundance. Notably, zinc- and manganese-depleted portions of the biofilm repress the production of anti-staphylococcal molecules. Exposure to calprotectin (a host protein known to sequester metal ions at infectious foci) recapitulates responses occurring within metal-deplete portions of the biofilm and promotes interaction between P. aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Consistent with these results, the presence of calprotectin promotes co-colonization

SUBMITTER: Wakeman CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4912628 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature