the production of highly glyceroL-phosphorylated β-(13)-glucans, which bind aminoglycosides

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen which affects immuno- compromised individuals and causes life-threatening infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Colonization of CF lung by P. aeruginosa involves a biofilm mode of growth, which is promot ed by the production of exopolysaccharides. These polymers are essential components of the extracellular biofilm matrix. P. aeruginosa possesses several clusters contributing to the for mation of the matrix, including the pel or psl genes. In the present study, we identified anionic cyclic glucans produced by P. aeruginosa, which are associated with the matrix of strains PA KΔ ΔretS and PA14.