Genotypic analysis of UK keratitis-associated Pseudomonas aeruginosa suggests adaptation to environmental water as a key component in the development of eye infections

Abstract To examine temporal dynamics of corneal infection (keratitis)-associated Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we compared the genetic characteristics of isolates collected during two different time periods (2003–2004 and 2009–2010) using an ArrayTube genotyping system. The distribution of keratitis-associated isolates from the two studies (n = 123) among a database of P. aeruginosa strains of non-ocular origin (n = 322) indicated that 71% of UK keratitis-associated P. aeruginosa isolates clustered together, and there was no evidence for major variations in the distribution of clone types between the two collections. Our analysis indicates the presence of a ‘core keratitis cluster’, associated with corneal infections, that is related to the P. aeruginosa eccB clonal complex, which is associated with adaptation to survival in environmental water. This suggests that adaptation to environmental water is a key factor in the ability of P. aeruginosa to cause eye infections.