Pseudomonas aeruginosa Flashcards
Who first identified P. aeruginosa and in what year?
Carle Gessard in 1882
Carle Gessard was a French pharmacist.
What characteristic color do P. aeruginosa colonies exhibit due to pyocyanin?
Green
What type of organism is P. aeruginosa?
Heterotroph
What is the motility feature of P. aeruginosa?
Pili help bacteria bind to epithelial cells, and are useful in biofilm formation.
Flagella facilitate motility and in the case of P. aeruginosa may help with binding to mucin found in cystic fibrosis (CF) sputum.
What type of anaerobe is P. aeruginosa?
Facultative anaerobe
What are the Gram characteristics of P. aeruginosa?
Gram-negative rods with two membranes and LPS on the outer membrane.
What is the temperature range for the survival of P. aeruginosa?
Between 4 and 42°C
What type of pathogen is P. aeruginosa?
Opportunistic pathogen
What is the common lab strain of P. aeruginosa called?
PAO1
When was the genome of P. aeruginosa sequenced?
In 2000
What is the size of the P. aeruginosa genome?
6.3Mbp
What are the two new terms defined in relation to P. aeruginosa genomes?
Core genome and pan-genome
Define the core genome.
The region of the genome possessed by all P. aeruginosa strains and required for survival.
Define the pan-genome.
The entire set of genes for all strains, including the core genome and accessory genome.
What is a central problem associated with P. aeruginosa?
High level of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
How does P. aeruginosa acquire resistance to antibiotics?
Through horizontal gene transfer and mutations in genes.
What strain of antimicrobial resistant P. aeruginosa is on the WHO priority pathogens list?
Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
What significant virulence factor does P. aeruginosa possess?
Ability to form biofilms
What surrounds the cells in P. aeruginosa biofilms?
Exopolysaccharide (EPS)
What is quorum sensing?
A process that allows bacteria to communicate with one another.
What role does quorum sensing play in P. aeruginosa?
Bacteria monitor cell density using QS, allowing transcription of specific genes.
What is the function of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in P. aeruginosa?
Increases negative charge, provides structural integrity, and protects from chemicals.
What do secretion systems in P. aeruginosa do?
Export proteins from the cytoplasm into the external environment.
Name examples of exoproducts secreted by P. aeruginosa.
Proteases, exotoxins, hydrogen cyanide
What contributes to the motility of P. aeruginosa?
Pili and flagella
Fill in the blank: P. aeruginosa is described as an _______ pathogen.
Opportunistic
What are biofilms and how do they contribute to antimicrobial resistance in P. aeruginosa?
Biofilms are aggregates that protect bacteria from antibiotics and host immune response.
What characteristics contribute to the antimicrobial resistance observed in P. aeruginosa?
Outer membrane proteins and protective lipopolysaccharide layer
Name types of molecules secreted by P. aeruginosa that might contribute to virulence
Examples include proteases, exotoxins and hydrogen cyanide.
Use scientific terminology to describe metabolic properties of P. aeruginosa. You should refer to oxygen utilisation and potential carbon sources.
Heterotroph using a broad range of carbon compounds. Facultative anaerobe that grows best in oxygen but can use nitrate as a terminal electron acceptor. May ferment arginine. Grows 4-42 degrees Celsius so is psychrotolerant.
