Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2017
Abstract
Purpose
The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a significant virulence determinant for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using a rodent model, we found that contact lens(CL)-related corneal infections were associated with lens surface biofilms. Here, we studied the impact of human tear fluid on CL-associated biofilm growth and T3SS expression.
Methods
P. aeruginosa biofilms were formed on contact lenses for up to 7 days with or without human tear fluid, then exposed to tear fluid for 5 or 24 h. Biofilms were imaged using confocal microscopy. Bacterial culturability was quantified by viable counts, and T3SS gene expression measured by RT-qPCR. Controls included trypticase soy broth, PBS and planktonic bacteria.
Results
With or without tear fluid, biofilms grew to ∼108 CFU viable bacteria by 24 h. Exposing biofilms to tear fluid after they had formed without it on lenses reduced bacterial culturability ∼180-fold (P<.001). CL growth increased T3SS gene expression versus planktonic bacteria [5.46 ± 0.24-fold for T3SS transcriptional activitor exsA (P=.02), and 3.76 ± 0.36-fold for T3SS effector toxin exoS(P=.01)]. Tear fluid further enhanced exsA and exoS expression in CL-grown biofilms, but not planktonic bacteria, by 2.09 ± 0.38-fold (P=.04) and 1.89 ± 0.26-fold (P<.001), respectively.
Conclusions
Considering the pivitol role of the T3SS in P. aeruginosa infections, its induction in CL-grown P. aeruginosa biofilms by tear fluid might contribute to the pathogenesis of CL-related P. aeruginosa keratitis.
Recommended Citation
Wu, Y. T., Tam, C., Zhu, L. S., Evans, D. J., & Fleiszig, S. M. J. (2017). Human tear fluid reduces culturability of contact lens-associated Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms but induces expression of the virulence-associated type III secretion system. Ocular Surface, 15(1), 88-96.
Publisher's Statement
Originally published in Ocular Surface, 15(1), 88-96. This is an accepted manuscript version of this article. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtos.2016.09.001
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
