Entropically driven aggregation of bacteria by host polymers promotes antibiotic tolerance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

ABSTRACT: Bacteria causing chronic infections are generally observed living in cell aggregates suspended in polymer-rich host secretions, and bacterial phenotypes induced by aggregated growth may be key factors in chronic infection pathogenesis. Bacterial aggregation is commonly thought of as a consequence of biofilm formation; however the mechanisms producing aggregation in vivo remain unclear. Here we show that polymers that are abundant at chronic infection sites cause bacteria to aggregate by the depletion aggregation mechanism, which does not require biofilm formation functions. Depletion aggregation is mediated by entropic forces between uncharged or like-charged polymers and particles (e.g., bacteria). Our experiments also indicate that depletion aggregation of bacteria induces marked antibio

SUBMITTER: Secor PR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6196481 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature