Inhibition of Aspergillus fumigatus and Its Biofilm by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Is Dependent on the Source, Phenotype and Growth Conditions of the Bacterium

PLoS One. 2015 Aug 7;10(8):e0134692. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134692. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) are leading fungal and bacterial pathogens, respectively, in many clinical situations. Relevant to this, their interface and co-existence has been studied. In some experiments in vitro, Pa products have been defined that are inhibitory to Af. In some clinical situations, both can be biofilm producers, and biofilm could alter their physiology and affect their interaction. That may be most relevant to airways in cystic fibrosis (CF), where both are often prominent residents. We have studied clinical Pa isolates from several sources for their effects on Af, including testing involving their biofilms. We show that the described inhibition of Af is related to the source and phenotype of the Pa isolate. Pa cells inhibited the growth and formation of Af biofilm from conidia, with CF isolates more inhibitory than non-CF isolates, and non-mucoid CF isolates most inhibitory. Inhibition did not require live Pa contact, as culture filtrates were also inhibitory, and again non-mucoid>mucoid CF>non-CF. Preformed Af biofilm was more resistant to Pa, and inhibition that occurred could be reproduced with filtrates. Inhibition of Af biofilm appears also dependent on bacterial growth conditions; filtrates from Pa grown as biofilm were more inhibitory than from Pa grown planktonically. The differences in Pa shown from these different sources are consistent with the extensive evolutionary Pa changes that have been described in association with chronic residence in CF airways, and may reflect adaptive changes to life in a polymicrobial environment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aspergillus fumigatus / drug effects
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / physiology*
  • Biofilms* / drug effects
  • Chlorides / pharmacology
  • Deoxyribonuclease I / pharmacology
  • Endopeptidase K / pharmacology
  • Ferric Compounds / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Iron / pharmacology
  • Microbial Viability / drug effects
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Molecular Weight
  • Phenotype
  • Plankton / physiology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / growth & development*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / isolation & purification
  • Spores, Fungal / drug effects
  • Spores, Fungal / physiology
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Chlorides
  • Ferric Compounds
  • Iron
  • Deoxyribonuclease I
  • Endopeptidase K
  • ferric chloride

Grants and funding

These studies were partially supported by a grant from the Child Health Research Institute, Stanford Transdisciplinary Initiatives Program (to DAS and RBM) and a gift from Mr. John Flatley (to DAS). JAGF and HN were partially supported by grants from the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), and by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), respectively. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.