FIG 1.

Proposed ecology and interactions of emerging pathogens in the CF lung. Possible interactions between NTM, Pa, and Af in the CF lung based on the findings of various in vitro studies. Pa and NTM have been shown to form multispecies biofilms in vitro increasing antibiotic resistance in both organisms (6). Pa and Af have shown both synergistic and predator-prey interactions in vitro, which could serve to maintain community boundaries in vivo (7, 43, 65). Pa found in the CF lung is frequently observed as aggregates of cells, which often exhibit behaviors different to petri dish or flow cell biofilms (44). Preliminary data (Darch lab) indicate that Pa aggregates may localize to Af hyphae without a killing effect. This figure was created with BioRender.com.