Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains from Both Clinical and Environmental Origins Readily Adopt a Stable Small-Colony-Variant Phenotype Resulting from Single Mutations in c-di-GMP Pathways
Alison Besse, Marie‐Christine Groleau, Mylène Trottier, Antony T. Vincent, Éric Déziel
Abstract
P. aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that thrives in many environments. It poses a significant health concern, notably because this bacterium is the most prevalent pathogen found in the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis. In infected hosts, its persistence is considered related to the emergence of an alternative small-colony-variant (SCV) phenotype. By reporting the distribution of P. aeruginosa SCVs in various nonclinical environments and the involvement of c-di-GMP in SCV emergence from both clinical and environmental strains, this work contributes to understanding a conserved adaptation mechanism used by P. aeruginosa to adapt readily in all environments. Hindering this adaptation strategy could help control persistent infection by P. aeruginosa.