A new study by Dr. Dao Nguyen investigates a potential overlooked source of infection in the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients: intracellular Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria traditionally considered to be an extracellular pathogen in CF. CF patients are prone to chronic lung infections due to a thick, sticky mucus caused by a malfunctioning protein, which creates an ideal environment for P. aeruginosa. This pathogen is notorious for being difficult to eliminate with standard treatments.
Recent research challenges the conventional understanding by providing evidence that P. aeruginosa can also exist within airway epithelial cells, not just in the mucus. This finding suggests that the bacteria might persist intracellularly, contributing to ongoing infections. The study, which analyzed lung samples from CF patients, found that despite being rare, intracellular P. aeruginosa exists and could be a hidden reservoir for chronic infections. These insights could lead to new treatment strategies that target both the extracellular and intracellular presence of P. aeruginosa in CF patients.
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Malet K, Faure E, Adam D, Donner J, Liu L, Pilon SJ, Fraser R, Jorth P, Newman DK, Brochiero E, Rousseau S, Nguyen D. Intracellular Pseudomonas aeruginosa within the Airway Epithelium of Cystic Fibrosis Lung Tissues. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2024 Jun 15;209(12):1453-1462. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202308-1451OC. PMID: 38324627.
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Crabbé A. Intracellular Pseudomonas aeruginosa: An Overlooked Reservoir in the Lungs of People with Cystic Fibrosis? Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2024 Jun 15;209(12):1421-1423. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202402-0388ED.