Center for Biofilm Engineering

Abstract:  

"Role of Alginate O Acetylation in Resistance of Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Opsonic Phagocytosis" 

Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) require that the

bacteria avoid host defenses. Elaboration of the extracellular, O-acetylated

mucoid exopolysaccharide, or alginate, is a major microbial factor in

resistance to immune effectors. Here we show that O acetylation of alginate

maximizes the resistance of mucoid P. aeruginosa to antibody-independent

opsonic killing and is the molecular basis for the resistance of mucoid P.

aeruginosa to normally nonopsonic but alginate-specific antibodies found in

normal human sera and sera of infected CF patients. O acetylation of alginate

appears to be critical for P. aeruginosa resistance to host immune effectors

in CF patients.

Pier, G.B., F. Coleman, M. Grout, M. Franklin, and D.E. Ohman, "Role of Alginate O Acetylation in Resistance of Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Opsonic Phagocytosis," Infect Immun., 69:1895-1901 (2001).