Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pneumoniae coinfection

What is it about?

For a long time, the study of bacterial infections has focused on testing of a single bacterial species causing an infection. However, there is often interactions between more than one bacterial species during an infection that can lead to a poor outcome. We studied the interaction of P. aeruginosa and S. pneumoniae during mouse lung infections. We found that a secreted protease from P. aeruginosa changes the lung environment and increases the virulence of S. pneumoniae.

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Why is it important?

An understanding of the dynamics of coinfections are becoming increasingly important. Such interactions can lead to a failure of antibiotic therapy. Also, we demonstrated that these interactions can lead to a poor outcome for the host.