{"635708":{"#nid":"635708","#data":{"type":"news","title":"A Problematic Pathogen Develops Antibiotic Tolerance \u2014 Without Previous Exposure","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EPseudomonas aeruginosa\u003C\/em\u003E is a particularly nasty pathogen. It can readily infect individuals with burn injuries, chronic wounds and hospital-acquired infections, like ventilator-associated pneumonia and sepsis. Pathogenic strains can build up in critical body organs, such as lungs, urinary tract, and kidneys, to fatal results. The problematic pathogen often finds a home in immunocompromised individuals who have serious underlying illnesses.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAs populations of \u003Cem\u003EP. aeruginosa\u003C\/em\u003E swell, they often aggregate into slimy biofilms that stick to one another and to various surfaces, from medical equipment to airways in the lungs and onto other organs. Thriving in humid environments, the bacteria can create chronic infections that are notoriously resistant to antibiotic treatment.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe pathogen is especially dangerous for cystic fibrosis patients. This genetic disease leads to an overproduction of thick mucus, which provides good growth conditions for microbes like \u003Cem\u003EP. aeruginosa\u003C\/em\u003E, which can then produce antibiotic-resistant biofilms \u2014 blankets of microorganisms that cover lung tissue and provide a host environment for more damaging pathogens.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EA team of Georgia Tech researchers from the\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E School of Biological Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E has released \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41396-020-0652-0\u0022\u003Ea study\u003C\/a\u003E that points to another problem with \u003Cem\u003EPseudomonas aeruginosa\u003C\/em\u003E: in a synthetic media that mimics cystic fibrosis sputum, populations of cells can quickly evolve to develop tolerance and resistance to certain antibiotics \u2014 despite having no previous exposure to them.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe were surprised that the antibiotic tolerance increased so quickly in our experiment\u201d says\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/sheyda-azimi\u0022\u003E Sheyda Azimi\u003C\/a\u003E, a\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cff.org\/\u0022\u003E Cystic Fibrosis Foundation\u003C\/a\u003E Postdoctoral Fellow. \u201cWhat our data tells us is that in a single species evolved population, with a mixture of diverse single isolates, becomes antibiotic tolerant even without the selective pressure of antibiotics.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAzimi and four fellow School of Biological Sciences scientists \u2013 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/stephen-diggle\u0022\u003ESteve Diggle\u003C\/a\u003E (who served as Georgia Tech\u0027s lead in developing the project),\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/joshua-weitz\u0022\u003E Joshua Weitz\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/sam-brown\u0022\u003ESamuel Brown\u003C\/a\u003E, and graduate student \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/shengyun-peng\u0022\u003EShengyun Peng\u003C\/a\u003E, have published the results of their study, \u201cAllelic polymorphism shapes community function in evolving \u003Cem\u003EPseudomonas aeruginosa\u003C\/em\u003E populations,\u201d in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/ismej\/\u0022\u003EThe ISME Journal\u003C\/a\u003E, the official journal of the\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isme-microbes.org\/\u0022\u003E International Society of Microbial Ecology\u003C\/a\u003E. The team also includes two researchers from Swansea University Medical School and The University of Birmingham.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAzimi says the increase in tolerance to antibiotics is due to changes in the function of key genes that control social trait production in \u003Cem\u003EP. aeruginosa. \u003C\/em\u003E\u201cSimply put, the changes in population dynamics leads to the tolerance phenotype, so if the \u003Cem\u003EP. aeruginosa\u003C\/em\u003E populations evolve in a chemical environment similar to lungs of individuals with cystic fibrosis, it can display the same phenotype of increased tolerance to certain antibiotics.\u201d Those include beta-lactam antibiotics, one of the most commonly prescribed classes of clinical antibiotics, and the type researchers used in the study.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EEven though \u003Cem\u003EP. aeruginosa\u003C\/em\u003E is a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.news.gatech.edu\/2018\/05\/22\/study-shows-how-bacteria-behave-differently-humans-compared-lab\u0022\u003Ewell-studied\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/2018\/05\/29\/bacterial-conversations-cystic-fibrosis\u0022\u003Emicrobe\u003C\/a\u003E, fewer studies have explored its heterogeneity, or the diversity in its traits and characteristics, and how that diversity helps its cells communicate with one another. The team\u2019s study sought to better understand these social behaviors and how they can influence the microbe\u2019s development and evolution.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe team evolved \u003Cem\u003EP. aeruginosa\u003C\/em\u003E in biofilms, growing the bacteria in a synthetic sputum medium, meant to mimic a mixture of saliva and mucus, for 50 days. \u201cWe measured social trait production and antibiotic tolerance, and used a metagenomic approach to analyze and assess genomic changes over the duration of the evolution experiment,\u201d she writes in the article\u2019s abstract (metagenomics is the study of genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples). The team found that evolutionary trajectories were reproducible in independently evolving populations, and that over 60% of that genomic diversity occurred within the first 10 days of selection.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe study showed emergent behavior and interesting interactions between different evolved isolates of \u003Cem\u003EP. aeruginosa\u003C\/em\u003E \u2014 co-existing alongside each other and acting as one functional entity.\u0026nbsp; \u201cYou can imagine a team where each individual is equipped with particular skills,\u201d says Azimi. \u201cNot all members need to be the best at all functions. Some members of the team may produce lots of toxins, whereas some may be better at forming biofilms or resisting antibiotics. Put together they function more effectively as a unit.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAzimi emphasizes that these interactions take place within a diverse population of the same species, a community that has evolved from a single ancestor. \u201cThe individuals are not teaching each other. I would call it more of \u2018hand-waving\u2019; they actually signal to and sense one another, and evolve in a certain way that appears to benefit the whole group.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.stevediggle.net\/sheyda-azimi.html\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELearn more about Azimi\u2019s work\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.stevediggle.net\/our-research.html\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Esociomicrobiology\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, and \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.stevediggle.net\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Diggle Lab at Georgia Tech\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe research team thanks the following funding sources: The\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hfsp.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003EHuman Frontier Science Program\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E (RGY0081\/2012) and Georgia Institute of Technology, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (DIGGLE18I0) to SPD, \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cff.org\/Research\/Researcher-Resources\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ECystic Fibrosis Foundation for a Fellowship to SA\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E (AZIMI18F0), and CF@latna for a Fellowship to SA (3206AXB). The team also thanks the\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003ENational Heart Lung Blood Institute\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E (R56HL142857) and \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.simonsfoundation.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Simons Foundation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E (396001).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA study led by The Diggle Lab found that the opportunistic pathogen \u003Cem\u003EPseudomonas aeruginosa\u003C\/em\u003E can quickly evolve in a synthetic media that mimics cystic fibrosis sputum, to develop tolerance and resistance to certain antibiotics.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A study led by The Diggle Lab found that the opportunistic pathogen \u0022Pseudomonas aeruginosa\u0022 can quickly evolve in a synthetic media that mimics cystic fibrosis sputum, to develop tolerance and resistance to certain antibiotics."}],"uid":"34434","created_gmt":"2020-05-27 15:29:52","changed_gmt":"2024-02-15 20:23:59","author":"Renay San Miguel","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2020-05-27T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2020-05-27T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"635711":{"id":"635711","type":"image","title":"Biofilms of P. aeruginosa ","body":null,"created":"1590594869","gmt_created":"2020-05-27 15:54:29","changed":"1590594869","gmt_changed":"2020-05-27 15:54:29","alt":"","file":{"fid":"241886","name":"Biofilm Plate.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Biofilm%20Plate.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Biofilm%20Plate.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":95822,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/Biofilm%20Plate.jpg?itok=J3xk4SDf"}},"635710":{"id":"635710","type":"image","title":"Researchers used a congo red agar (CRA) test to detect biofilms formed by P. Aeruginosa.","body":null,"created":"1590594699","gmt_created":"2020-05-27 15:51:39","changed":"1590594699","gmt_changed":"2020-05-27 15:51:39","alt":"","file":{"fid":"241885","name":"CRA biofilms.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/CRA%20biofilms.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/CRA%20biofilms.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":46970,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/CRA%20biofilms.jpg?itok=XaZuNQlI"}},"635709":{"id":"635709","type":"image","title":"Sheyda Azimi, Post-Doctorate Fellow, School of Biological Sciences ","body":null,"created":"1590594043","gmt_created":"2020-05-27 15:40:43","changed":"1590594043","gmt_changed":"2020-05-27 15:40:43","alt":"","file":{"fid":"241884","name":"Sheyda Azimi.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Sheyda%20Azimi.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Sheyda%20Azimi.png","mime":"image\/png","size":140182,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/Sheyda%20Azimi.png?itok=rU5pRHqd"}}},"media_ids":["635711","635710","635709"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/2018\/05\/29\/bacterial-conversations-cystic-fibrosis","title":"Bacterial Conversations in Cystic Fibrosis"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/study-shows-how-bacteria-behave-differently-humans-compared-lab","title":"Study Shows How Bacteria Behave Differently in Humans Compared to the Lab"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.stevediggle.net\/","title":"The Diggle Lab"}],"groups":[{"id":"620089","name":"Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection (CMDI)"},{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"4896","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"188231","name":"CMDI"},{"id":"166882","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"184930","name":"Sheyda Azimi"},{"id":"168156","name":"Steve Diggle"},{"id":"11599","name":"Joshua Weitz"},{"id":"167226","name":"Samuel Brown"},{"id":"184931","name":"Shengyun Peng"},{"id":"184932","name":"Pseudomonas aeruginosa"},{"id":"7478","name":"cystic fibrosis"},{"id":"6646","name":"heterogeneity"},{"id":"170021","name":"biofilms"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ERenay San Miguel\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nCommunications Officer\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nCollege of Sciences\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n404-894-5209\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["renay.san@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}