Klebsiella Lytic Phages Induce <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> PAO1 Biofilm Formation

Bacterial biofilms, characterized by complex structures, molecular communication, adaptability to environmental changes, insensitivity to chemicals, and immune response, pose a big problem both in clinics and in everyday life. The increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics also led to the explor...

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Main Authors: Grzegorz Guła, Grazyna Majkowska-Skrobek, Anna Misterkiewicz, Weronika Salwińska, Tomasz Piasecki, Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Viruses
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/615
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author Grzegorz Guła
Grazyna Majkowska-Skrobek
Anna Misterkiewicz
Weronika Salwińska
Tomasz Piasecki
Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
author_facet Grzegorz Guła
Grazyna Majkowska-Skrobek
Anna Misterkiewicz
Weronika Salwińska
Tomasz Piasecki
Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
author_sort Grzegorz Guła
collection DOAJ
description Bacterial biofilms, characterized by complex structures, molecular communication, adaptability to environmental changes, insensitivity to chemicals, and immune response, pose a big problem both in clinics and in everyday life. The increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics also led to the exploration of lytic bacteriophages as alternatives. Nevertheless, bacteria have co-evolved with phages, developing effective antiviral strategies, notably modification or masking phage receptors as the first line of defense mechanism. This study investigates viral–host interactions between non-host-specific phages and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, assessing whether bacteria can detect phage particles and initiate protective mechanisms. Using real-time biofilm monitoring via impedance and optical density techniques, we monitored the phage effects on biofilm and planktonic populations. Three Klebsiella phages, <i>Slopekvirus</i> KP15, <i>Drulisvirus</i> KP34, and <i>Webervirus</i> KP36, were tested against the <i>P. aeruginosa</i> PAO1 population, as well as Pseudomonas <i>Pbunavirus</i> KTN6. The results indicated that Klebsiella phages (non-specific to <i>P. aeruginosa</i>), particularly podovirus KP34, accelerated biofilm formation without affecting planktonic cultures. Our hypothesis suggests that bacteria sense phage virions, regardless of specificity, triggering biofilm matrix formation to block potential phage adsorption and infection. Nevertheless, further research is needed to understand the ecological and evolutionary dynamics between phages and bacteria, which is crucial for developing novel antibiofilm therapies.
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spelling doaj-art-e139507a194f403abdcbbdf6366eb8c22025-08-20T03:48:02ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-04-0117561510.3390/v17050615Klebsiella Lytic Phages Induce <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> PAO1 Biofilm FormationGrzegorz Guła0Grazyna Majkowska-Skrobek1Anna Misterkiewicz2Weronika Salwińska3Tomasz Piasecki4Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa5Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, University of Wrocław, S. Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 50-148 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, University of Wrocław, S. Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 50-148 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, University of Wrocław, S. Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 50-148 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, University of Wrocław, S. Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 50-148 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Nanometrology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Z. Janiszewskiego 11/17, 50-372 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, University of Wrocław, S. Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 50-148 Wrocław, PolandBacterial biofilms, characterized by complex structures, molecular communication, adaptability to environmental changes, insensitivity to chemicals, and immune response, pose a big problem both in clinics and in everyday life. The increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics also led to the exploration of lytic bacteriophages as alternatives. Nevertheless, bacteria have co-evolved with phages, developing effective antiviral strategies, notably modification or masking phage receptors as the first line of defense mechanism. This study investigates viral–host interactions between non-host-specific phages and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, assessing whether bacteria can detect phage particles and initiate protective mechanisms. Using real-time biofilm monitoring via impedance and optical density techniques, we monitored the phage effects on biofilm and planktonic populations. Three Klebsiella phages, <i>Slopekvirus</i> KP15, <i>Drulisvirus</i> KP34, and <i>Webervirus</i> KP36, were tested against the <i>P. aeruginosa</i> PAO1 population, as well as Pseudomonas <i>Pbunavirus</i> KTN6. The results indicated that Klebsiella phages (non-specific to <i>P. aeruginosa</i>), particularly podovirus KP34, accelerated biofilm formation without affecting planktonic cultures. Our hypothesis suggests that bacteria sense phage virions, regardless of specificity, triggering biofilm matrix formation to block potential phage adsorption and infection. Nevertheless, further research is needed to understand the ecological and evolutionary dynamics between phages and bacteria, which is crucial for developing novel antibiofilm therapies.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/615<i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>Klebsiella phagesnon-specific viral–bacteria interactionsbiofilm
spellingShingle Grzegorz Guła
Grazyna Majkowska-Skrobek
Anna Misterkiewicz
Weronika Salwińska
Tomasz Piasecki
Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
Klebsiella Lytic Phages Induce <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> PAO1 Biofilm Formation
Viruses
<i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>
Klebsiella phages
non-specific viral–bacteria interactions
biofilm
title Klebsiella Lytic Phages Induce <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> PAO1 Biofilm Formation
title_full Klebsiella Lytic Phages Induce <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> PAO1 Biofilm Formation
title_fullStr Klebsiella Lytic Phages Induce <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> PAO1 Biofilm Formation
title_full_unstemmed Klebsiella Lytic Phages Induce <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> PAO1 Biofilm Formation
title_short Klebsiella Lytic Phages Induce <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> PAO1 Biofilm Formation
title_sort klebsiella lytic phages induce i pseudomonas aeruginosa i pao1 biofilm formation
topic <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>
Klebsiella phages
non-specific viral–bacteria interactions
biofilm
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/615
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