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The cystic fibrosis pathogen Achromobacter xylosoxidans inhibits biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Sahl, Cecilia LU orcid ; Andersson, Agnes LU orcid ; Larsson, Natalie ; Paulsson, Magnus LU orcid ; Shannon, Oonagh LU and Påhlman, Lisa I LU (2025) In Journal of Medical Microbiology 74(8). p.1-7
Abstract


Background.
Achromobacter xylosoxidans and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa are two pathogens that cause persistent airway infections in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). The persistence of
P. aeruginosa is partly due to a high capacity to form biofilms and the ability to exert antagonism against other bacteria. Loss of microbial diversity in conjunction with chronic
P. aeruginosa colonization is strongly correlated with low lung function in CF.
A. xylosoxidans and
P. aeruginosa are frequently co-isolated in CF airway cultures. This study aims to investigate the reciprocal effects on growth inhibition and biofilm formation between
P. aeruginosa and
A. xylosoxidans in vitro.
Method.... (More)


Background.
Achromobacter xylosoxidans and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa are two pathogens that cause persistent airway infections in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). The persistence of
P. aeruginosa is partly due to a high capacity to form biofilms and the ability to exert antagonism against other bacteria. Loss of microbial diversity in conjunction with chronic
P. aeruginosa colonization is strongly correlated with low lung function in CF.
A. xylosoxidans and
P. aeruginosa are frequently co-isolated in CF airway cultures. This study aims to investigate the reciprocal effects on growth inhibition and biofilm formation between
P. aeruginosa and
A. xylosoxidans in vitro.
Method. Six isolates of
A. xylosoxidans, isolated from three CF patients in early and late stages of a chronic infection, were cultured together with a CF isolate of
P. aeruginosa. Biofilm formation was assessed using a microtiter assay and crystal violet staining. Quantitative PCR was used to quantify species proportions in biofilms. Growth curves were performed to compare planktonic growth rates.
Results. Three
A. xylosoxidans isolates, all of which were from early-stage infections, inhibited biofilm formation of
P. aeruginosa. The inhibition was concentration-dependent and required the interaction of live bacteria during the early stages of biofilm development. The inhibitory effect was not caused by nutrient depletion of the planktonic cells. The selected
A. xylosoxidans isolate had a stronger capacity to adhere to plastic surfaces compared to the
P. aeruginosa isolate.
Conclusions
. A. xylosoxidans can inhibit
P. aeruginosa biofilm formation
in vitro. The observed effect requires active interactions between live cells during the attachment stage of biofilm formation, possibly due to differences in adhesion capacity.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Biofilms/growth & development, Pseudomonas aeruginosa/physiology, Achromobacter denitrificans/physiology, Humans, Cystic Fibrosis/microbiology, Pseudomonas Infections/microbiology, Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/microbiology, Antibiosis
in
Journal of Medical Microbiology
volume
74
issue
8
pages
1 - 7
publisher
Microbiology Society
external identifiers
  • pmid:40748998
  • scopus:105012910417
ISSN
0022-2615
DOI
10.1099/jmm.0.002051
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8a58d23b-881c-44b5-8c50-9308b9987384
date added to LUP
2025-08-22 14:44:03
date last changed
2025-08-25 09:58:10
@article{8a58d23b-881c-44b5-8c50-9308b9987384,
  abstract     = {{<p><br>
 Background. <br>
 Achromobacter xylosoxidans and <br>
 Pseudomonas aeruginosa are two pathogens that cause persistent airway infections in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). The persistence of <br>
 P. aeruginosa is partly due to a high capacity to form biofilms and the ability to exert antagonism against other bacteria. Loss of microbial diversity in conjunction with chronic <br>
 P. aeruginosa colonization is strongly correlated with low lung function in CF. <br>
 A. xylosoxidans and <br>
 P. aeruginosa are frequently co-isolated in CF airway cultures. This study aims to investigate the reciprocal effects on growth inhibition and biofilm formation between <br>
 P. aeruginosa and <br>
 A. xylosoxidans in vitro.<br>
 Method. Six isolates of <br>
 A. xylosoxidans, isolated from three CF patients in early and late stages of a chronic infection, were cultured together with a CF isolate of <br>
 P. aeruginosa. Biofilm formation was assessed using a microtiter assay and crystal violet staining. Quantitative PCR was used to quantify species proportions in biofilms. Growth curves were performed to compare planktonic growth rates.<br>
 Results. Three <br>
 A. xylosoxidans isolates, all of which were from early-stage infections, inhibited biofilm formation of <br>
 P. aeruginosa. The inhibition was concentration-dependent and required the interaction of live bacteria during the early stages of biofilm development. The inhibitory effect was not caused by nutrient depletion of the planktonic cells. The selected<br>
 A. xylosoxidans isolate had a stronger capacity to adhere to plastic surfaces compared to the <br>
 P. aeruginosa isolate.<br>
 Conclusions <br>
 . A. xylosoxidans can inhibit <br>
 P. aeruginosa biofilm formation <br>
 in vitro. The observed effect requires active interactions between live cells during the attachment stage of biofilm formation, possibly due to differences in adhesion capacity.<br>
 </p>}},
  author       = {{Sahl, Cecilia and Andersson, Agnes and Larsson, Natalie and Paulsson, Magnus and Shannon, Oonagh and Påhlman, Lisa I}},
  issn         = {{0022-2615}},
  keywords     = {{Biofilms/growth & development; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/physiology; Achromobacter denitrificans/physiology; Humans; Cystic Fibrosis/microbiology; Pseudomonas Infections/microbiology; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/microbiology; Antibiosis}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{8}},
  pages        = {{1--7}},
  publisher    = {{Microbiology Society}},
  series       = {{Journal of Medical Microbiology}},
  title        = {{The cystic fibrosis pathogen Achromobacter xylosoxidans inhibits biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.002051}},
  doi          = {{10.1099/jmm.0.002051}},
  volume       = {{74}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}