Cross-membrane cooperation among bacteria can facilitate intracellular pathogenesis.

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen able to cause life- and sight-threatening infections. Once considered an extracellular pathogen, numerous studies have shown it can survive intracellularly. Previously, we showed that P. aeruginosa inside cells can diversify into distinct subpopulations in vacuoles and the cytoplasm. Here, we report that the transition from vacuoles to cytoplasm requires collaboration with the extracellular subpopulation, through Ca²⁺ influx enabled by their type III secretion system (T3SS) translocon pore proteins. Moreover, we show that collaboration among P. aeruginosa subpopulations can contribute to disseminating intracellular bacteria in vivo in a mouse infection model. This study lays the groundwork for future investigations into how cooperation between extracellular and intracellular bacteria within the host contributes to disease progression and persistence.