Cited by 238Oral microbiology and periodontitis researchBacterial biofilms and quorum sensingMicrobial infections and disease research

Metabolite Cross-Feeding Enhances Virulence in a Model Polymicrobial Infection

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Ramsey, Matthew M., Rumbaugh, Kendra P., Whiteley, Marvin·2011·PLoS Pathogens

Abstract

Microbes within polymicrobial infections often display synergistic interactions resulting in enhanced pathogenesis; however, the molecular mechanisms governing these interactions are not well understood. Development of model systems that allow detailed mechanistic studies of polymicrobial synergy is a critical step towards a comprehensive understanding of these infections in vivo. In this study, we used a model polymicrobial infection including the opportunistic pathogen Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and the commensal Streptococcus gordonii to examine the importance of metabolite cross-feeding for establishing co-culture infections. Our results reveal that co-culture with S. gordonii enhances the pathogenesis of A. actinomycetemcomitans in a murine abscess model of infection. Interestingly, the ability of A. actinomycetemcomitans to utilize L-lactate as an energy source is essential for these co-culture benefits. Surprisingly, inactivation of L-lactate catabolism had no impact on mono-culture growth in vitro and in vivo suggesting that A. actinomycetemcomitans L-lactate catabolism is only critical for establishing co-culture infections. These results demonstrate that metabolite cross-feeding is critical for A. actinomycetemcomitans to persist in a polymicrobial infection with S. gordonii supporting the idea that the metabolic properties of commensal bacteria alter the course of pathogenesis in polymicrobial communities.

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Authors
Ramsey, M. M., Rumbaugh, K. P., & Whiteley, M.
Affiliations
  • The University of Texas at Austin (US)
  • Texas Tech University (US)
Corresponding author
Whiteley, Marvin
Venue
PLoS Pathogens
Published
2011-03-31
Volume
7
Issue
3
Pages
e1002012
ISSN
  • 1553-7366 (ISSN-L)
  • 1553-7374
OpenAlex
W2082366901
Cited by
238
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 11
FWCI
18.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS Pathogens (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Texas ScholarWorks (Texas Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI075068)
  • National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (F31DE019995, R01DE020100)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Microbial infections and disease research
Keywords
co-infection, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Streptococcus gordonii, bacterial synergy, virulence, commensal bacteria, oral infection
MeSH terms
Abscess, Animals, Glucose, Mutation, Pasteurellaceae, Coculture Techniques, Lactic Acid, Mice, Streptococcus gordonii, Microbial Interactions, Coinfection

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