Insights on pathoadaptation of sequential Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates to the urinary tract

Abstract

P. aeruginosa is the third most common pathogen causing healthcare-associated UTIs. Its ability to form biofilms and develop antibiotic resistance often leads to relapses. Here, we investigated the phenotypic characteristics of longitudinal urinary isolates under specific stress conditions and used an in vivo model to evaluate the virulence of these isolates. Integrating proteomic analysis into this approach allowed us to identify the metabolic and regulatory pathways involved in bacterial adaptation and to establish innovative correlations between genomic, phenotypic, and proteomic data. Altogether, these data enabled us to map the adaptation mechanisms of P. aeruginosa in the urinary environment. These findings provide putative new therapeutic targets and contribute to our understanding of recurrent UTIs caused by this pathogen.