Role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Glutathione Biosynthesis in Lung and Soft Tissue Infection [Bacterial Infections]

In this study, we created a P. aeruginosa mutant defective in GSH biosynthesis to examine how loss of GSH biosynthesis affects P. aeruginosa virulence. We found that GSH is critical for normal growth in vitro and provides protection against hydrogen peroxide, bleach, and ciprofloxacin. We also studied the role of P. aeruginosa GSH biosynthesis in four mouse infection models, including the surgical wound, abscess, burn wound, and acute pneumonia models. We discovered that the GSH biosynthesis mutant was slightly less virulent in the acute pneumonia infection model but was equally virulent in the three other models. This work provides new and complementary data regarding the role of GSH in P. aeruginosa during mammalian infection.

Source: Infection and Immunity - May 19, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Michie, K. L., Dees, J. L., Fleming, D., Moustafa, D. A., Goldberg, J. B., Rumbaugh, K. P., Whiteley, M. Tags: Bacterial Infections Source Type: research