Gene Expression: Developing resistance

Biofilms are organized groups of bacteria growing on a surface. For reasons that are not yet clear, they are resistant to antimicrobial agents, for example in cystic fibrosis patients susceptible to biofilm infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microarray technology has now been used to examine the difference between free-living and 'biofilm' P. aeruginosa and the genetic basis of biofilm resistance to antimicrobials. Some microbiologists have predicted wholesale changes in gene expression between free living and biofilm forms, but only 1% of genes show a differential expression, and a limited set of just 20 genes is found to be induced by the presence of an antibiotic.

Gene expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms
MARVIN WHITELEY, M. GITA BANGERA, ROGER E. BUMGARNER, MATTHEW R. PARSEK, GAIL M. TEITZEL, STEPHEN LORY & E. P. GREENBERG
Nature 413, 860-864 (25 October 2001)
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25 October 2001 table of contents