Phenotypic and transcriptomic analysis of seven clinical Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolates identify a small set of shared and commonly regulated genes involved in biofilm lifestyle.

This study will lay the foundation for the identification of strategies for fighting S. maltophilia biofilms in clinical and industrial settings.IMPORTANCEMicroorganisms living in a biofilm are much more tolerant to antibiotics and antimicrobial substances than planktonic cells. Thus, the treatment of infections caused by microorganisms living in biofilms is extremely difficult. The nosocomial infections among others caused by S. maltophilia, particularly lung infection among CF patients, increased in prevalence in the last years. The intrinsic multidrug resistance of S. maltophilia and the increased tolerance to antimicrobial agents of its biofilm cells, makes the treatment of S. maltophilia infection difficult. The significance of our research is based in understanding the common mechanisms involved in biofilm formation of different S. maltophilia isolates, understanding the diversity of biofilm architectures among this species and in identifying the differently regulated processes in biofilm versus planktonic cells. These results will lay the foundation for the treatment of S. maltophilia biofilms. PMID: 33097507 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Applied and Environmental Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Appl Environ Microbiol Source Type: research