TY - JOUR

T1 - The environmental occurrence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

AU - Crone, Stephanie

AU - Vives-Flórez, Martha

AU - Kvich, Lasse

AU - Saunders, Aaron M.

AU - Malone, Matthew

AU - Nicolaisen, Mette H.

AU - Martínez-García, Esteban

AU - Rojas-Acosta, Catalina

AU - Catalina Gomez-Puerto, Maria

AU - Calum, Henrik

AU - Whiteley, Marvin

AU - Kolter, Roberto

AU - Bjarnsholt, Thomas

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Pseudomonas aeruginosa is generally described as ubiquitous in natural settings, such as soil and water. However, because anecdotal observations and published reports have questioned whether or not this description is true, we undertook a rigorous study using three methods to investigate the occurrence of P. aeruginosa: We investigated environmental samples, analyzed 16S rRNA data, and undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of published data. The environmental sample screening identified P. aeruginosa as significantly associated with hydrocarbon and pesticide-contaminated environments and feces, as compared to uncontaminated environments in which its prevalence was relatively low. The 16S rRNA data analysis showed that P. aeruginosa sequences were present in all habitats but were most abundant in samples from human and animals. Similarly, the meta-analysis revealed that samples obtained from environments with intense human contact had a higher prevalence of P. aeruginosa compared to those with less human contact. Thus, we found a clear tendency of P. aeruginosa to be present in places closely linked with human activity. Although P. aeruginosa may be ubiquitous in nature, it is usually scarce in pristine environments. Thus, we suggest that P. aeruginosa should be described as a bacterium largely found in locations associated with human activity.

AB - Pseudomonas aeruginosa is generally described as ubiquitous in natural settings, such as soil and water. However, because anecdotal observations and published reports have questioned whether or not this description is true, we undertook a rigorous study using three methods to investigate the occurrence of P. aeruginosa: We investigated environmental samples, analyzed 16S rRNA data, and undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of published data. The environmental sample screening identified P. aeruginosa as significantly associated with hydrocarbon and pesticide-contaminated environments and feces, as compared to uncontaminated environments in which its prevalence was relatively low. The 16S rRNA data analysis showed that P. aeruginosa sequences were present in all habitats but were most abundant in samples from human and animals. Similarly, the meta-analysis revealed that samples obtained from environments with intense human contact had a higher prevalence of P. aeruginosa compared to those with less human contact. Thus, we found a clear tendency of P. aeruginosa to be present in places closely linked with human activity. Although P. aeruginosa may be ubiquitous in nature, it is usually scarce in pristine environments. Thus, we suggest that P. aeruginosa should be described as a bacterium largely found in locations associated with human activity.

KW - Environmental

KW - incidence

KW - occurrence

KW - Pseudomonas aeruginosa

U2 - 10.1111/apm.13010

DO - 10.1111/apm.13010

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 31709616

AN - SCOPUS:85076767388

VL - 128

SP - 220

EP - 231

JO - A P M I S. Acta Pathologica, Microbiologica et Immunologica Scandinavica

JF - A P M I S. Acta Pathologica, Microbiologica et Immunologica Scandinavica

SN - 0903-4641

IS - 3

ER -