Tender, L. M. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2022

Electrochemical disruption of extracellular electron transfer inhibits Pseudomonas aeruginosa cell survival within biofilms and is synergistic with antibiotic treatment

Survival of cells within oxygen-limited regions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms is enabled by using small redox active molecules as electron shuttles to access distal oxidants. This respiratory versatility makes P. aeruginosa biofilms common in chronic wound infections and recalcitrant to treatment. Here, we show that electrochemically controlling the redox state of these electron shuttles, specifically pyocyanin, can impact cell survival within anaerobic P. aeruginosa biofilms and can act synergistically with antibiotic treatment. We inhibited pyocyanin redox cycling under anoxic conditions by blocking its ability to be re-oxidized and thus serve as an electron shuttle via poising an electrode at a reductive potential that cannot regenerate oxidized pyocyanin (i.e. -400mV vs Ag/AgCl). This resulted in a decrease in CFUs within the biofilm of 100x compared to samples exposed to an electrode poised at an oxidizing potential that permits pyocyanin re-oxidation (i.e. +100mV vs Ag/AgCl). Phenazine-deficient {Delta}phz* biofilms were not affected by the redox potential of the electrode, but were re-sensitized by adding pyocyanin. The effect of EET disruption was exacerbated when biofilms were treated with sub-MICs of a range of antibiotics. Most notably, 4 g/ml of the aminoglycoside gentamicin in a reductive environment almost completely eradicated wild type biofilms but had no effect on the survival of {Delta}phz* biofilms, suggesting reduced phenazines are toxic, and combined with antibiotic treatment can lead to extensive killing. ImportanceBiofilms provide a protective environment but they also present challenges to the cells living within them, such as overcoming diffusion limitation of nutrients and oxygen. Pseudomonas aeruginosa overcomes oxygen limitation by secreting soluble redox active molecules as electron shuttles to access distal oxygen. Here, we show that electrochemically blocking the redox cycling of one of these electron shuttles, pyocyanin, decreases cell survival within biofilms and acts synergistically with gentamicin to kill cells. Our results highlight the importance of the role that the redox cycling of electron shuttles fulfills within P. aeruginosa biofilms.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

Extracellular DNA promotes efficient extracellular electron transfer by pyocyanin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms

Extracellular electron transfer (EET), the process whereby cells access electron acceptors or donors that reside many cell lengths away, enables metabolic activity by microorganisms, particularly under oxidant-limited conditions that occur in multicellular bacterial biofilms. Although different mechanisms underpin this process in select organisms, a widespread strategy involves extracellular electron shuttles, redox-active metabolites that are secreted and recycled by diverse bacteria. How these shuttles catalyze electron transfer within biofilms without being lost to the environment has been a long-standing question. Here, we show that phenazine electron shuttles mediate efficient EET through interactions with extracellular DNA (eDNA) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms, which are important in nature and disease. Retention of pyocyanin (PYO) and phenazine carboxamide in the biofilm matrix is facilitated by binding to eDNA. In vitro, different phenazines can exchange electrons in the presence or absence of DNA and phenazines can participate directly in redox reactions through DNA; the biofilm eDNA can also support rapid electron transfer between redox active intercalators. Electrochemical measurements of biofilms indicate that retained PYO supports an efficient redox cycle with rapid EET and slow loss from the biofilm. Together, these results establish that eDNA facilitates phenazine metabolic processes in P. aeruginosa biofilms, suggesting a model for how extracellular electron shuttles achieve retention and efficient EET in biofilms.

microbiology↗