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Microbiology (Reading)

Title:		N-acylhomoserine-lactone-mediated communication between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia in mixed biofilms
Author(s):		Riedel K; Hentzer M; Geisenberger O; Huber B; Steidle A; Wu H; Hoiby N; Givskov M; Molin S; Eberl L;
Address:		"Department of Microbiology, TUM, Am Hochanger 4, D-85350 Freising, Germany"
Journal Title:		Microbiology (Reading)
Year:		2001
Volume:		147
Issue:		Pt 12
Page Number:		3249 - 3262
DOI:		10.1099/00221287-147-12-3249
ISSN/ISBN:		1350-0872 (Print) 1350-0872 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia are capable of forming mixed biofilms in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. Both bacteria employ quorum-sensing systems, which rely on N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) signal molecules, to co-ordinate expression of virulence factors with the formation of biofilms. As both bacteria utilize the same class of signal molecules the authors investigated whether communication between the species occurs. To address this issue, novel Gfp-based biosensors for non-destructive, in situ detection of AHLs were constructed and characterized. These sensors were used to visualize AHL-mediated communication in mixed biofilms, which were cultivated either in artificial flow chambers or in alginate beads in mouse lung tissue. In both model systems B. cepacia was capable of perceiving the AHL signals produced by P. aeruginosa, while the latter strain did not respond to the molecules produced by B. cepacia. Measurements of extracellular proteolytic activities of defined quorum-sensing mutants grown in media complemented with AHL extracts prepared from culture supernatants of various wild-type and mutant strains supported the view of unidirectional signalling between the two strains"
Keywords:		"Animals Biofilms/*growth & development Burkholderia Infections/metabolism Burkholderia cepacia/*physiology Endopeptidases/biosynthesis Genes, Reporter Green Fluorescent Proteins Homoserine/*analogs & derivatives Luminescent Proteins Lung Diseases/microbio;"
Notes:		"MedlineRiedel, K Hentzer, M Geisenberger, O Huber, B Steidle, A Wu, H Hoiby, N Givskov, M Molin, S Eberl, L eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2001/12/12 Microbiology (Reading). 2001 Dec; 147(Pt 12):3249-62. doi: 10.1099/00221287-147-12-3249"