Extended Data Fig. 10: Model of the colonization vs tolerance trade-offs for biofilms and its consequences for phenotypic diversification during chronic infections. | Nature Microbiology

Extended Data Fig. 10: Model of the colonization vs tolerance trade-offs for biofilms and its consequences for phenotypic diversification during chronic infections.

From: Pseudomonas aeruginosa faces a fitness trade-off between mucosal colonization and antibiotic tolerance during airway infection

Extended Data Fig. 10

Left. During colonization, planktonic behavior is beneficial as it allows better spread on the mucosa, eventually leading to the killing of epithelial cells. However, upon antibiotic treatment selection, the biofilm lifestyle, which minimizes tissue damage, is selected. Right. Long-term infection leads to genetic diversification, where strains displaying different genotypes co-exist. Such genotypes display phenotypic lifestyles (acute or chronic behavior). During antibiotic treatment selection, biofilm-forming strains may protect genotypes associated with acute behavior. We hypothesize that upon removal of the antibiotic selection (either by treatment break and/or mutation leading to resistance), acute behavior is again beneficial, potentially leading to lung exacerbations.

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