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BMC Infectious Diseases
Published in: BMC Infectious Diseases 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Pneumonia | Research article

Characterization of the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains causing ventilator-associated pneumonia

Authors: Beatriz Alonso, Laia Fernández-Barat, Enea Gino Di Domenico, Mercedes Marín, Emilia Cercenado, Irene Merino, Manuela de Pablos, Patricia Muñoz, María Guembe

Published in: BMC Infectious Diseases | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

The objective of this study was to evaluate the virulence of P. aeruginosa ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) strains (cases) in terms of biofilm production and other phenotypic and genotypic virulence factors compared to P. aeruginosa strains isolated from other infections (controls).

Methods

Biofilm production was tested to assess biomass production and metabolic activity using crystal violet binding assay and XTT assay, respectively. Pigment production (pyocyanin and pyoverdine) was evaluated using cetrimide agar. Virulence genes were detected by conventional multiplex PCR and virulence was tested in an in vivo model in Galleria mellonella larvae.

Results

We did not find statistically significant differences between VAP and no-VAP strains (p > 0.05) regarding biofilm production. VAP strains had no production of pyocyanin after 24 h of incubation (p = 0.023). The distribution of virulence genes between both groups were similar (p > 0.05). VAP strains were less virulent than non-VAP strains in an in vivo model of G. mellonella (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The virulence of VAP-Pseudomonas aeruginosa does not depend on biofilm formation, production of pyoverdine or the presence of some virulence genes compared to P. aeruginosa isolated from non-invasive locations. However, VAP strains showed attenuated virulence compared to non-VAP strains in an in vivo model of G. mellonella.
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Metadata
Title
Characterization of the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains causing ventilator-associated pneumonia
Authors
Beatriz Alonso
Laia Fernández-Barat
Enea Gino Di Domenico
Mercedes Marín
Emilia Cercenado
Irene Merino
Manuela de Pablos
Patricia Muñoz
María Guembe
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Infectious Diseases / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2334
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-020-05534-1

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