Project
The impact of coevolution in the adaptation and diversification of Pseudomonas aeruginosaSpecies interactions are ubiquitous in nature, but their role as drivers of evolution is not entirely clear. Interaction networks are central to modulating ecological communities, but some argue that, over time, abiotic forces will always outweigh biotic effects. Adaptation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the clinical environment is one of the major causes of complications when treating patients with cystic fibrosis. During chronic infections, the pathogen will face the host immune response, but also interact with other pathogens present in the lungs. P. aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are commonly isolated from cystic fibrosis patients and are present in a broad range of environments. They generate concern for causing long-lasting infections and evolving antibiotic resistance. These characteristics make them a good real-life example for studying the impacts of species interaction on evolution. We used experimental evolution to address the consequences of co-evolving with S. aureus on P. aeruginosa adaptation and diversification. We evolved the two bacteria both in monoculture and co-culture for 250 generations in a medium that resembles the lung environment (SCFM) and a minimal resource media (M9). To measure adaptation to the medium and to the presence of S. aureus, we quantified competitive fitness of evolved P. aeruginosa isolates against both bacterial ancestor strains. We selected pathoadaptive phenotypes to evaluate the diversification of P. aeruginosa isolates in each treatment. We will use the collected data to test whether the presence of S. aureus hinders the adaptation of P. aeruginosa to the media, while promoting bacterial diversification, as expected by theory. We aim to enhance understanding of the impact of species interactions on evolution, while also generating insights that can inform patient care.
Keywords
coevolution, microbiology, experimental evolutionPublications
1- Derivatives of the Cashew Nut Shell Liquid as Ligands of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Phenazine Protein D (PaPhzD)Mendes, Marina Sena, Thamires Quadros Froes, Caio Gomes Tavares Rosa, Gabriella Simões Heyn Roth Cardoso, Thais Ferreira, Andressa Souza de Oliveira, Luiz A. S. Romeiro, Regina Lúcia Baldini, Marcelo S. Castilho
2025 ACS Omega
2- Toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis and deltamethrin in three anuran species
Empey, Madelaine A., Yol M. Reyes, Jeffrey P. Ethier, Caio G.T. Rosa, Vance L. Trudeau
2025 Environmental Pollution
3- c-di-GMP-related phenotypes are modulated by the interaction between a diguanylate cyclase and a polar hub protein
Nicastro, Gianlucca G., Gilberto H. Kaihami, André A. Pulschen, Jacobo Hernandez-Montelongo, Ana Laura Boechat, Thays de Oliveira Pereira, Caio Gomes Tavares Rosa, Eliezer Stefanello, Pio Colepicolo, Christophe Bordi, Regina L. Baldini
2020 Scientific Reports
