<i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> Microevolution during Cystic Fibrosis Lung Infection Establishes Clones with Adapted Virulence

Abstract

Our findings indicate that clonal expansion of P. aeruginosa strains during microevolution within CF lungs leads to populations with altered but not reduced virulence. These P. aeruginosa clones with adapted virulence play a critical role in the pathogenesis of chronic infections and may serve to define virulence determinants as targets for novel therapies.