Social Behavior of Antibiotic Resistant Mutants Within Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Communities.

ABSTRACT: The complex spatial structure and the heterogeneity within biofilms lead to the emergence of specific social behaviors. However, the impact of resistant mutants within bacterial communities is still mostly unknown. Thus, we determined whether antibiotic resistant mutants display selfish or altruistic behaviors in mixed Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms exposed to antibiotics. ECFP-tagged P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 and its EYFP-tagged derivatives hyperproducing the β-lactamase AmpC or the efflux pump MexAB-OprM were used to develop single or mixed biofilms. Mature biofilms were challenged with different concentrations of β-lactams to monitor biofilm structural dynamics, using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and population dynamics, through enumeration of viable cells.

SUBMITTER: Rojo-Molinero E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6438888 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature