Transcriptomics analysis during the transient ceftazidime tolerance of Burkholderia pseudomallei

B. pseudomallei strain K96243 is sensitive to the drug ceftazidime (CAZ), but has been shown to exhibit transient CAZ tolerance when in a biofilm form. To investigate an observed shift in gene expression profile during ceftazidime (CAZ) tolerance and to better understand the mechanistic aspects of this transient tolerance, RNA-sequencing was performed on B. pseudomallei K96243 from the following three growth states: planktonic-free, biofilm, and planktonic shedding cells. Results indicated that the expression of 651 genes (10.97%) were significantly changed in both biofilm (resistant) and planktonic shedding (sensitive) cells in comparison to the planktonic state. Burkholderia biofilm shifts its transcriptome in response to ceftazidime exposure by regulating iron-sulfur stabilizing and metabolic-related genes. To confirm the transient tolerance condition. The B. pseudomallei strain K96243 was grown under biofilm and the control by growing in an enrichment planktonic cells and then observed for their ceftazidime (CAZ) susceptibility by evaluating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in planktonic (MIC), biofilm (MBEC) and planktonic shedding (P-MIC) forms. The total RNA was extracted from B. pseudomallei K96243 that grew under transient tolerance condition without CAZ exposure including planktonic-free, biofilm, and planktonic shedding cells. Each sample was generated from three biological replicates of bacterial growth state.