Phenotypic and genotypic analysis of biofilm production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from infection and colonization samples

Abstract

Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen associated with healthcare-related infections, affecting mainly patients with underlying diseases and immunosuppression. This microorganism has several virulence mechanisms that favour its pathogenesis, including the production of biofilm. This study aimed to analyze the phenotypic production of biofilms, the occurrence of quorum sensing (QS) genes, and the clonal profile of clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa from colonized/infected patients in a tertiary hospital in Recife-PE. Methods: We obtained 21 isolates that were classified as infection isolates (II), and 10 colonization isolates (CI). The phenotypic analysis for biofilm production was performed quantitatively. The QS genes were detected by specific PCRs, and the clonal profile was assessed using ERIC-PCR. Results: Of the 31 isolates, 58.1 % (18/31) were biofilm producers, of which 70 % (7/10) were CI and classified as weakly adherent; 52.4 % (11/21) of the II produced biofilms, and were classified as weak (38.1 %, (8/21)), moderate (9.5 %, (2/21)), and strongly adherent (4.8 %, (1/21)). All isolates harbored the QS genes analyzed. In the clonal analysis, 26 distinct genetic profiles were identified, highlighting the presence of a clone in four samples, i.e., one infection isolate, and 3 colonization isolates. Conclusions: The detection of biofilm formation is important in P. aeruginosa in addition to the identification of colonization and infection isolates, especially from complex environments such as ICUs. Further, we define a strategy for monitoring and analyzing P. aeruginosa strains that can potentially cause infections in hospitalized patients.

Correlation of biofilm production with antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from various clinical specimens

“…13 In contrast, Rodrigues et al reported that maximum isolation rate of P. aeruginosa from blood (33.3%), tracheal secretion (23.8%), and urine (23.8%) was the most prevalent sources of P. aeruginosa. 16 There was a high prevalence of biofilm production in these isolates. Furthermore, Haji reported that, out of 96, 84 (87.5) isolates were biofilm producers by MTPM method.…”

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa

“…11 Biofilm formation helps the organism survive on medical devices and enhances drug resistance in P. aeruginosa , thereby contributing to chronic infections in patients on mechanical ventilators, with burn wounds and cystic fibrosis. 12 , 13 …”

Measuring bcr1 gene expression in C. albicans biofilm and its relation with persister cell

“…of proteins that maintain adhesion, and thus the deletion of individual proteins in "C. albicans" , such as "bcr1", resulted in an almost complete loss of initial adhesion. and a collapse of biofilm, development(Burgain et al, 2019;Rodrigues et al, 2020;van Wijlick et al, 2016). highlighted that biofilm maturation.…”