Effects of Airway Epithelial Secretions on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Formation

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the leading cause of death in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) yet rarely causes infection in healthy individuals. This increased virulence among the CF population has been linked to in vivo biofilm formation. Despite this linkage, the dynamics existing between native lung secretions (whether normal or abnormal) and biofilm formation remain largely unexplored. In this study, apical secretions from wild-type Calu-3 cells and a CFTR-knockout variant were used as a model for normal lung (non-CF) and abnormal lung (CF) secretions, respectively.  These secretions were added to a static biofilm assay to elucidate the effects of normal and abnormal secretions on P. aeruginosa (PA14) biofilm formation. Biofilms under various conditions were quantitated using crystal violent staining and spectroscopy.  The effects of secretions from wild-type and CFTR deficient Calu-3 cells on PA14 biofilm formation are presented here. These results may assist in highlighting possible interaction mechanisms between lung secretions and P. aeruginosa biofilm formation in future studies.

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