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Achromobacter spp. Adaptation in Cystic Fibrosis Infection and Candidate Biomarkers of Antimicrobial Resistance. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169265. [PMID: 36012535 PMCID: PMC9409262 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Achromobacter spp. can establish occasional or chronic lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Chronic colonization has been associated with worse prognosis highlighting the need to identify markers of bacterial persistence. To this purpose, we analyzed phenotypic features of 95 Achromobacter spp. isolates from 38 patients presenting chronic or occasional infection. Virulence was tested in Galleria mellonella larvae, cytotoxicity was tested in human bronchial epithelial cells, biofilm production in static conditions was measured by crystal violet staining and susceptibility to selected antibiotics was tested by the disk diffusion method. The presence of genetic loci associated to the analyzed phenotypic features was evaluated by a genome-wide association study. Isolates from occasional infection induced significantly higher mortality of G. mellonella larvae and showed a trend for lower cytotoxicity than chronic infection isolates. No significant difference was observed in biofilm production among the two groups. Additionally, antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that isolates from chronically-infected patients were significantly more resistant to sulfonamides and meropenem than occasional isolates. Candidate genetic biomarkers associated with antibiotic resistance or sensitivity were identified. Achromobacter spp. strains isolated from people with chronic and occasional lung infection exhibit different virulence and antibiotic susceptibility features, which could be linked to persistence in CF lungs. This underlines the possibility of identifying predictive biomarkers of persistence that could be useful for clinical purposes.
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Characterisation of Bacteriophage vB_SmaM_Ps15 Infective to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Clinical Ocular Isolates. Viruses 2022; 14:v14040709. [PMID: 35458438 PMCID: PMC9025141 DOI: 10.3390/v14040709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent acknowledgment that multidrug resistant Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strains can cause severe infections has led to increasing global interest in addressing its pathogenicity. While being primarily associated with hospital-acquired respiratory tract infections, this bacterial species is also relevant to ophthalmology, particularly to contact lens-related diseases. In the current study, the capacity of Stenotrophomonas phage vB_SmaM_Ps15 to infect ocular S. maltophilia strains was investigated to explore its future potential as a phage therapeutic. The phage proved to be lytic to a range of clinical isolates collected in Australia from eye swabs, contact lenses and contact lens cases that had previously shown to be resistant to several antibiotics and multipurpose contact lenses disinfectant solutions. Morphological analysis by transmission electron microscopy placed the phage into the Myoviridae family. Its genome size was 161,350 bp with a G + C content of 54.2%, containing 276 putative protein-encoding genes and 24 tRNAs. A detailed comparative genomic analysis positioned vB_SmaM_Ps15 as a new species of the Menderavirus genus, which currently contains six very similar globally distributed members. It was confirmed as a virulent phage, free of known lysogenic and pathogenicity determinants, which supports its potential use for the treatment of S. maltophilia eye infections.
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Sandri A, Haagensen JAJ, Veschetti L, Johansen HK, Molin S, Malerba G, Signoretto C, Boaretti M, Lleo MM. Adaptive Interactions of Achromobacter spp. with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Cystic Fibrosis Chronic Lung Co-Infection. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10080978. [PMID: 34451442 PMCID: PMC8400197 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10080978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), the main pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is often co-isolated with other microbes, likely engaging in inter-species interactions. In the case of chronic co-infections, this cohabitation can last for a long time and evolve over time, potentially contributing to the clinical outcome. Interactions involving the emerging pathogens Achromobacter spp. have only rarely been studied, reporting inhibition of P. aeruginosa biofilm formation. To evaluate the possible evolution of such interplay, we assessed the ability of Achromobacter spp. isolates to affect the biofilm formation of co-isolated P. aeruginosa strains during long-term chronic co-infections. We observed both competition and cohabitation. An Achromobacter sp. isolate secreted exoproducts interfering with the adhesion ability of a co-isolated P. aeruginosa strain and affected its biofilm formation. Conversely, a clonal Achromobacter sp. strain later isolated from the same patient, as well as two longitudinal strains from another patient, did not show similar competitive behavior against its P. aeruginosa co-isolates. Genetic variants supporting the higher virulence of the competitive Achromobacter sp. isolate were found in its genome. Our results confirm that both inter-species competition and cohabitation are represented during chronic co-infections in CF airways, and evolution of these interplays can happen even at the late stages of chronic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Sandri
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Microbiology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.S.); (C.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Janus Anders Juul Haagensen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark; (J.A.J.H.); (S.M.)
| | - Laura Veschetti
- Laboratory of Computational Genomics, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (L.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Helle Krogh Johansen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark;
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Søren Molin
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark; (J.A.J.H.); (S.M.)
| | - Giovanni Malerba
- Laboratory of Computational Genomics, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (L.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Caterina Signoretto
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Microbiology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.S.); (C.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Marzia Boaretti
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Microbiology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.S.); (C.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Maria M. Lleo
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Microbiology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.S.); (C.S.); (M.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-045-802-7194
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Abstract
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an opportunistic pathogen of significant concern to susceptible patient populations. This pathogen can cause nosocomial and community-acquired respiratory and bloodstream infections and various other infections in humans. Sources include water, plant rhizospheres, animals, and foods. Studies of the genetic heterogeneity of S. maltophilia strains have identified several new genogroups and suggested adaptation of this pathogen to its habitats. The mechanisms used by S. maltophilia during pathogenesis continue to be uncovered and explored. S. maltophilia virulence factors include use of motility, biofilm formation, iron acquisition mechanisms, outer membrane components, protein secretion systems, extracellular enzymes, and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. S. maltophilia is intrinsically drug resistant to an array of different antibiotics and uses a broad arsenal to protect itself against antimicrobials. Surveillance studies have recorded increases in drug resistance for S. maltophilia, prompting new strategies to be developed against this opportunist. The interactions of this environmental bacterium with other microorganisms are being elucidated. S. maltophilia and its products have applications in biotechnology, including agriculture, biocontrol, and bioremediation.
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The Antimicrobial Activity of Multipurpose Disinfecting Solutions in the Presence of Different Organic Soils. Eye Contact Lens 2020; 46:201-207. [DOI: 10.1097/icl.0000000000000694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Dantam J, Subbaraman LN, Jones L. Adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Delftia acidovorans, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia to contact lenses under the influence of an artificial tear solution. BIOFOULING 2020; 36:32-43. [PMID: 31973583 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2019.1710832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 12/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Corneal infection is a devastating sight-threatening complication that is associated with contact lens (CL) wear, commonly caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Lately, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Delftia acidovorans, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia have been associated with corneal infection. This study investigated the adhesion of these emerging pathogens to CLs, under the influence of an artificial tear solution (ATS) containing a variety of components commonly found in human tears. Two different CL materials, etafilcon A and senofilcon A, either soaked in an ATS or phosphate buffered saline, were exposed to the bacteria. Bacterial adhesion was investigated using a radio-labeling technique (total counts) and plate count method (viable counts). The findings from this study revealed that in addition to P. aeruginosa, among the emerging pathogens evaluated, A. xylosoxidans showed an increased propensity for adherence to both CL materials and S. maltophilia showed lower viability. ATS influenced the viable counts more than the total counts on CLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaya Dantam
- Centre for Ocular Research & Education, School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Lakshman N Subbaraman
- Centre for Ocular Research & Education, School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Lyndon Jones
- Centre for Ocular Research & Education, School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
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