Essential genome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis sputum

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1419677112
• Publication Date: 2015-03-17T02:56:33Z
• Authors: Keith H. Turner; Aimee K. Wessel; Gregory C. Palmer; Justine L. Murray; Marvin Whiteley
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Cystic Fibrosis; Riboflavin; Stem Cells; Sputum; Biotin; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Pantothenic Acid; 03 medical and health sciences; Species Specificity; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Humans; Wounds and Injuries; Computer Simulation; Pseudomonas Infections; Lung; Monte Carlo Method; Genome, Bacterial

Significance

The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa thrives in cystic fibrosis (CF) lung sputum. Here, we define the essential genome of two P. aeruginosa strains in laboratory media and in CF sputum. We also use genomic methods to profile P. aeruginosa genetic requirements for fitness in both natural and synthetic CF sputum. Finally, we show that the essential genomes of different strains of P. aeruginosa are distinct, suggesting that the architecture of genetic networks is a primary determinant of a gene’s role in fitness. This has implications for the development of strain-independent therapeutics and underscores the importance of functional studies in pathogenic strains of interest.