Anaerobiosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Implications for Treatments of Airway Infection

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as an opportunistic pathogen, establishes a chronic infection in the respiratory track of patients suffering from pneumonia and bronchiectasis, including cystic fibrosis. Biofilm formation inside the oversecreted mucus layer lining the patient airway and production of virulence factors, a process controlled by quorum sensing, are considered to be the major virulence determinants in P. aeruginosa pathogenesis. Recently, an abnormally thickened mucus layer was proven to be anaerobic. Given the fact that currently used antibiotics are less effective under anaerobic environments, these new findings lead us to change the way we confront P. aeruginosa infection. This article reviews pathological features of patient airways that become susceptible to P. aeruginosa infection and bacterial adaptation that contributes to the prolonged survival inside the patient airway.