Intracellular Pseudomonas aeruginosa: internalization and survival.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa can survive intracellularly in human tissues, forming reservoirs that may lead to chronic infections and relapse, with up to 100% persistence observed.

• Why it matters: Understanding how P. aeruginosa establishes intracellular survival is crucial because it evades immune responses and antibiotic treatments, complicating infection management and leading to persistent disease.
• What they did: The study reviews the interactions between P. aeruginosa and eukaryotic cells, focusing on the bacterial protein secretion systems that facilitate its intracellular niche, based on current scientific knowledge.
• The result: This synthesis highlights the mechanisms behind intracellular persistence, providing insights that could inform new strategies to target hidden bacterial reservoirs and improve treatment outcomes.