American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Aug 2014
Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro Phenotypes Distinguish Cystic Fibrosis Infection Stages and Outcomes.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa undergoes phenotypic changes during cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infection. Although mucoidy is traditionally associated with transition to chronic infection, we hypothesized that additional in vitro phenotypes correlate with this transition and contribute to disease. ⋯ In this large epidemiologic study of CF P. aeruginosa adaptation, P. aeruginosa isolates exhibited two in vitro phenotypes that best distinguished early and later infection stages. Among the many phenotypes tested, mucoidy and reduced twitching best predicted subsequent PE. These phenotypes indicate potentially useful prognostic markers of transition to chronic infection and advancing lung disease.