The formation of a protective biofilm by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is one of the hallmarks of their survival both in vivo and in harsh environmental conditions, thus, biofilm-eradication has relevance from therapeutic perspectives and for infection control. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible relationship between antibiotic resistance, biofilm-forming capacity and virulence factors in n = 166 PA isolates of environmental origin. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and the phenotypic detection of resistance determinants were carried out using standard protocols. The biofilm-forming capacity of PA was tested using a standardized crystal violet microtiter plate-based method. Motility (swimming, swarming, and twitching) and siderophore production of the isolates were also assessed. Resistance rates were highest for ciprofloxacin (46.98%), levofloxacin (45.18%), ceftazidime (31.92%) and cefepime (30.12%); 19.28% of isolates met the criteria to be classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR). Efflux pump overexpression, AmpC overexpression, and modified Hodge-test positivity were noted in 28.31%, 18.07% and 3.61%, respectively. 22.89% of isolates were weak/non-biofilm producers, while 27.71% and 49.40% were moderate and strong biofilm producers, respectively. Based on MDR status of the isolates, no significant differences in biofilm-production were shown among environmental PA (non-MDR OD570 [mean +/- SD]: 0.416 +/- 0.167 vs. MDR OD570: 0.399 +/- 0.192; p > 0.05). No significant association was observed between either motility types in the context of drug resistance or biofilm-forming capacity (p > 0.05). 83.13% of isolates tested were positive for siderophore production. The importance of PA as a pathogen in chronic and healthcare-associated infections has been described extensively, while there is increasing awareness of PA as an environmental agent in agriculture and aquaculture. Additional studies in this field would be an important undertaking to understand the interrelated nature of biofilm production and antimicrobial resistance, as these insights may become relevant bases for developing novel therapeutics and eradication strategies against PA.

Relationship between Biofilm-Formation, Phenotypic Virulence Factors and Antibiotic Resistance in Environmental Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Behzadi, Payam; Gajdács, Márió; Pallós, Péter; Ónodi, Boglárka; Stájer, Anette; Matusovits, Danica; Kárpáti, Krisztina; Burián, Katalin; Battah, Basem; Ferrari, Marco; Doria, Carlo; Caggiari, Gianfilippo; Khusro, Ameer; Zanetti, Stefania; Donadu, Matthew Gavino. - In: PATHOGENS. - ISSN 2076-0817. - 11:9(2022). [10.3390/pathogens11091015]

Relationship between Biofilm-Formation, Phenotypic Virulence Factors and Antibiotic Resistance in Environmental Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Battah, Basem;Doria, Carlo;Caggiari, Gianfilippo;Zanetti, Stefania;Donadu, Matthew Gavino
2022-01-01

Abstract

The formation of a protective biofilm by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is one of the hallmarks of their survival both in vivo and in harsh environmental conditions, thus, biofilm-eradication has relevance from therapeutic perspectives and for infection control. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible relationship between antibiotic resistance, biofilm-forming capacity and virulence factors in n = 166 PA isolates of environmental origin. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and the phenotypic detection of resistance determinants were carried out using standard protocols. The biofilm-forming capacity of PA was tested using a standardized crystal violet microtiter plate-based method. Motility (swimming, swarming, and twitching) and siderophore production of the isolates were also assessed. Resistance rates were highest for ciprofloxacin (46.98%), levofloxacin (45.18%), ceftazidime (31.92%) and cefepime (30.12%); 19.28% of isolates met the criteria to be classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR). Efflux pump overexpression, AmpC overexpression, and modified Hodge-test positivity were noted in 28.31%, 18.07% and 3.61%, respectively. 22.89% of isolates were weak/non-biofilm producers, while 27.71% and 49.40% were moderate and strong biofilm producers, respectively. Based on MDR status of the isolates, no significant differences in biofilm-production were shown among environmental PA (non-MDR OD570 [mean +/- SD]: 0.416 +/- 0.167 vs. MDR OD570: 0.399 +/- 0.192; p > 0.05). No significant association was observed between either motility types in the context of drug resistance or biofilm-forming capacity (p > 0.05). 83.13% of isolates tested were positive for siderophore production. The importance of PA as a pathogen in chronic and healthcare-associated infections has been described extensively, while there is increasing awareness of PA as an environmental agent in agriculture and aquaculture. Additional studies in this field would be an important undertaking to understand the interrelated nature of biofilm production and antimicrobial resistance, as these insights may become relevant bases for developing novel therapeutics and eradication strategies against PA.
2022
Relationship between Biofilm-Formation, Phenotypic Virulence Factors and Antibiotic Resistance in Environmental Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Behzadi, Payam; Gajdács, Márió; Pallós, Péter; Ónodi, Boglárka; Stájer, Anette; Matusovits, Danica; Kárpáti, Krisztina; Burián, Katalin; Battah, Basem; Ferrari, Marco; Doria, Carlo; Caggiari, Gianfilippo; Khusro, Ameer; Zanetti, Stefania; Donadu, Matthew Gavino. - In: PATHOGENS. - ISSN 2076-0817. - 11:9(2022). [10.3390/pathogens11091015]
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Relationship between Biofilm-Formation, Phenotypic Virulence.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione finale pubblicata)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 353.74 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
353.74 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11388/324670
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 25
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 24
social impact