A Mildly Acidic Environment Alters Pseudomonas aeruginosa Virulence and Causes Remodeling of the Bacterial Surface
Negar Mozaheb, Paria Rasouli, Mandeep Kaur, Patrick Van Deŕ Smissen, Gerald Larrouy‐Maumus, Marie‐Paule Mingeot‐Leclercq
Abstract
P. aeruginosa encounters environments with acidic pH when establishing infections in hosts. The bacterium develops an altered phenotype to tolerate a moderate decrease in the environmental pH. At the level of the bacterial envelope, modified lipid A composition and a reduction of the bacterial inner membrane permeability and fluidity are among the changes P. aeruginosa undergoes at a mildly low pH. Also, the bacterium is more likely to form biofilm in a mildly acidic environment. Overall, these alterations in the P. aeruginosa phenotype put obstacles in the way of antibacterial activities. Thus, considering physiological changes in the bacterium at low pH helps design and implement antimicrobial approaches against this hostile microorganism.