Adaptation and survival of Burkholderia cepacia and B. contaminans during long-term incubation in saline solutions containing benzalkonium chloride

The present study was designed to gain insights into the the survival and adaptation of clonal isolates of B. cepacia and B. contaminans was investigated after long-term incubation in nutrient depleted saline solutions, and in the presence of two concentrations of benzalkonium chloride (BZK), a biocidal preservative commonly used in pharmaceutical settings. Additionally, the comparative genomic analysis performed for two B. cepacia saline solutions' isolates confirmed the existence of a putative BZK degradation pathway was confirmed through comparative genomic analysis. Bacterial strains were previously recovered from contaminated saline solutions for nasal application or from two CF patients under surveillance at a Lisbon hospital. This work is the result of a collaboration between the Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB), Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal, and the Cystic Fibrosis Centre of Hospital Santa Maria in Lisbon, Portugal.