GNPS-Burkholderia_trimethoprim_SCFM2vsLB

Infections by Burkholderia cenocepacia lead to life-threatening disease in immunocompromised individuals, including those living with cystic fibrosis (CF). While genetic variation in various B. cenocepacia strains has been reported, it remains unclear how environmental conditions found in the CF lung influence the production of small molecules that may impact virulence of these strains. Here we compare metabolomic profiles of three clinical B. cenocepacia strains cultured in synthetic CF sputum media (SCFM2) and in a routine laboratory media (LB), in the presence and absence of the antibiotic trimethoprim. Using a mass spectrometry based untargeted metabolomics approach, we identify several compound classes which are differentially produced in SCFM2 compared to LB media, including siderophores, antimicrobials, quorum sensing signals, and various lipid families. Furthermore, we describe how metabolomic changes induced by the antibiotic trimethoprim vary in SCFM2 compared to LB. The differences described in this study provide insight into the diversity of secondary metabolites produced by B. cenocepacia strains under conditions representative of the nutritional conditions present in CF-associated lung environments.