Someone asked me to explain the difference between mucoid and non-mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) and how this relates to Biofilms. The answer is quite simple really. Most people with CF become infected with the non-mucoid PA strain in their childhood or adolescent years (80% are infected by the time they reach 20 years old). This non-mucoid PA strain over time tends to mutate to a mucoid strain, which means it now has the ability to produce a protective biofilm that can protect it from its environment. Biofilm producing (Mucoid) PA are very dangerous to CFers because they have the ability to evade the immune system and be resistant to antibiotics. Mucoid PA is a leading predominant source of morbidity and mortality in people with CF. This is why drugs targeting the destruction of biofilms are so important for CFers.
If you would like to read more on this topic, here is a nice short review:
http://ajcp.ascpjournals.org/content/128/1/32.full.pdf
- Chris
If you would like to read more on this topic, here is a nice short review:
http://ajcp.ascpjournals.org/content/128/1/32.full.pdf
- Chris