Citrate cross-feeding by <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> supports <i>lasR</i> mutant fitness
Dallas L. Mould, Carson Finger, Amy Conaway, Nico J. Botelho, Stacie E. Stuut, Deborah A. Hogan
Abstract
Cross-feeding of metabolites can change community composition, structure, and function. Here, we unravel a cross-feeding mechanism between frequently co-observed isolate genotypes in chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections. We illustrate an example of how clonally derived diversity in a microbial communication system enables intra- and inter-species cross-feeding. Citrate, a metabolite released by many cells including P. aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus , was differentially consumed between genotypes. Since these two pathogens frequently co-occur in the most severe cystic fibrosis lung infections, the cross-feeding-induced virulence factor expression and fitness described here between diverse genotypes exemplify how co-occurrence can facilitate the development of worse disease outcomes.