Trophic cooperation promotes bacterial survival of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

International audienceIn the context of infection, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are frequently co-isolated, particularly in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Within lungs, the two pathogens exhibit a range of competitive and coexisting interactions. In the present study, we explored the impact of S. aureus on P. aeruginosa physiology in the context of coexistence. Transcriptomic analyses showed that S. aureus affects significantly and specifically the expression of numerous genes involved in P. aeruginosa carbon and amino acid metabolism. In particular, 65% of the strains presented an important overexpression of the genes involved in the acetoin catabolic (aco) pathway. We demonstrated that acetoin is (i) produced by clinical S. aureus strains, (ii) detected in sputa from CF patients and (iii) involved in P. aeruginosa’s aco system induction. Furthermore, acetoin is catabolized by P. aeruginosa, a metabolic way that improves the survival of both pathogens by providing a new carbon source for P. aeruginosa and avoiding toxic accumulation of acetoin on S. aureus. Due to its beneficial effects on both bacteria, acetoin catabolism could testify to the establishment of trophic cooperation between S. aureus and P. aeruginosa in the CF lung environment, promoting their persistenc