Novel therapeutic strategies to counter Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a highly successful opportunistic pathogen that displays intrinsic multidrug resistance and has a tremendous capacity to acquire further resistance mechanisms. During chronic infection, the bacterium can form a protective biofilm therefore reducing the efficacy of existing antibiotics. P. aeruginosa also harbors an impressive range of virulence factors, many of which are controlled by the quorum-sensing system. Several novel therapeutics are under investigation such as those directed against biofilm formation and quorum-sensing systems along with bacteriophages and immunotherapies. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing and comparative genomics have opened the door to a new wave of smart drug design that could revolutionize P. aeruginosa treatment options.

Keywords::

• antibiotic resistance
• biofilm
• next-generation sequencing
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• quorum-sensing inhibitor
• therapeutics

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge funding from the NIHR Liverpool Biomedical Research Centre and the Wellcome Trust.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.