The Pseudomonas aeruginosa genome: how do we use it to develop strategies for the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis and Pseudomonas infections?

ABSTRACT

In the 2 years since the complete sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1 was published, at least 200 papers have been published describing research that made use of the PAO1 genome sequence. Some of this research included genome-wide studies of gene expression or the effect of mutation on bacterial functions such as biofilm formation; this type of global analysis would not have been possible without the availability of the sequence. As a result of these and other, more traditional, research studies, there is a wealth of new knowledge about the physiology of this pathogen. This raises the possibility of new strategies for the treatment of patients with P. aeruginosa infection, either by novel antibiotics or by drugs targeting bacterial functions essential for survival and virulence in the human host.