Impacts of Mucin on Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Adherence and Biofilm Growth
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) occurs in 300,000 patients annually. VAP is caused by inserting PVC tubing connected to a mechanical ventilator into the lungs. While there are many causes of infection, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the leading pathogen in both morbidity and mortality. Previous work has demonstrated the importance of understanding community dynamics in the lungs, particularly the interactions between mucin, the primary glycoprotein of mucus, and bacterial communities. In this study, methods were developed to investigate the impact of mucin-coated PVC on P. aeruginosa adherence and biofilm growth. Using this approach, we found that adherence of P. aeruginosa to mucin was increased while biofilm growth was decreased in comparison to non-mucin coated controls. These results add to the growing body of literature focusing on the impacts of mucin on P. aeruginosa growth and virulence. Preventing P. aeruginosa from colonizing PVC tubing used for mechanical ventilation by disrupting the interactions between mucin and P. aeruginosa could be an effective strategy for preventing VAP. This work is essential for understanding how the ecosystem and environment in the lungs can lead to short term and chronic lung infections and, more importantly, how to prevent and treat them.