High levels of cAMP inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation through reduction of the c-di-GMP content

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The human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause both acute infections and chronic biofilm-based infections. Expression of acute virulence factors is positively regulated by cAMP, whereas biofilm formation is positively regulated by c-di-GMP. We provide evidence that increased levels of cAMP, caused by either a lack of degradation or increased production, inhibit P. aeruginosa biofilm formation. cAMP-mediated inhibition of P. aeruginosa biofilm formation required Vfr, and involved a reduction of the level of c-di-GMP, as well as reduced production of biofilm matrix components. A mutant screen and characterization of defined knockout mutants suggested that a subset of c-di-GMP-degrading phosphodiesterases is involved in cAMP-Vfr-mediated biofilm inhibition in P. aeruginosa.

Original languageEnglish
JournalMicrobiology
Volume165
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)324-333
Number of pages10
ISSN1350-0872
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2019

ID: 216311433