Mechanisms of multi-species bacterial interactions

Division Of Basic Sciences - Nci

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Our research over the last year had two main directions, as described below. I) P. aeruginosa response to sensing S. aureus. Interactions between species can affect multiple bacterial behaviors, including antibiotic resistance, production of antibiotics, biofilm formation, and motility. We are interested in studying how S. aureus secreted molecules can affect P. aeruginosa behaviors. specifically focusing on antimicrobial production and motility. II) Characterize the adaptation of S. aureus to P. aeruginosa secreted antimicrobials. P. aeruginosa produces multiple molecules with antimicrobial activity against several other species, but their mode of action, and the pathways by which other bacteria can adapt to them, are not well-defined. We are interested in delineating the effect these molecules have on S. aureus cells, and identifying the adaptive trajectories of S. aureus in their presence. We have evolved multiple populations of S. aureus against the P. aeruginosa redox-active phenazine molecule pyocyanin and have identified mutations in several genes that have not been previously implicated in pyocyanin resistance. We aim to characterize how these mutations confer pyocyanin resistance, test their relevance in clinical isolates, and better describe the cellular effects of pyocyanin on S. aureus.