Analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Virulence in Dictyostelium discoideum Strains

Abstract: Dictyostelium discoideum is an ideal organism to test the pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, since its eukaryote nature allows for comparisons to be made to human health. Additionally, D. discoideum naturally feeds on bacteria and has a simplistic genome which improves result interpretation. P. aeruginosa is a free living bacteria that is recognized for its ability to cause nosocomial, hospital contracted, infections in immunocompromised patients. This experiment attempts to understand how various strains of D. discoideum may be more susceptible or resistant to infections caused by P. aeruginosa, as a result of environmentally induced adaptive mechanisms. Wild-type strains of D. discoideum will be isolated from Massard Prairie soil and compared to axenic-type strains that have been cultured free from association with other microbiota. The results of this experiment may support studies done on conserved virulence pathways in bacteria and give insight into virulence of P. aeruginosa in humans. There is evidence that Dictyostelium has capabilities that allow for protection against bacteria similar to P. aeruginosa.16 Therefore, it is expected that the wild-type D. discoideum will have adaptive mechanisms that which will cause resistance to P. aeruginosa, unlike axenic-type strains that will have limited resistivity.