Rapid Fire
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
- 25 Aug 2025
- 2 min read
A recent study found that Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria can have two different gene expressions (bistable gene expression) in identical cells, with some cells having certain genes "on" and others having them "off."
- The glpD gene, which helps the bacteria use glycerol, shows variable expression- in some cells, it is active (on), increasing infectivity, while in others, it is inactive (off).
- This variability is a form of epigenetic inheritance, meaning that gene expression can be passed down without changes to the DNA.
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
- About: It is a Gram-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, widely found in the environment like in soil & water, especially freshwater.
- Infection Potential: Can infect both healthy (immunocompetent) and weakened (immunocompromised) hosts.
- It can cause community-acquired infections (folliculitis, puncture-wound osteomyelitis, pneumonia, and otitis externa).
- It is responsible for 30% of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) in India such as ventilator-associated pneumonia, catheter-related urinary tract infections, and bloodstream infections.
- It feeds on plastic surfaces, and is a major cause of keratitis (eye infection) and fatal burn infections, thriving in ICU patients.
- Antibiotic Resistance: It is highly resistant due to its built-in resistance (like tough outer membrane and efflux pumps) and acquired resistance (mutations, plasmids, transposons, integrons).
- Only a few antibiotics remain effective such as tobramycin, amikacin, etc.
| Read More: Antimicrobial Resistance: The Urgent Call for Action |
