Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the in vitro and in vivo biofilm mode of growth

The biofilm mode of growth is the survival strategy of enviromental bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Such P. aeruginosa biofilms also occur in the lungs of chronically infected cystic fibrosis patients, where they protect the bacteria against antibiotics and the immune response. The lung tissue damage is due to immune complex mediated chronic inflammation dominated by polymorphonuclear leukocytes releasing proteases and oxygen radicals. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.