Gloria Soberón-Chávez, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen with high intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistant levels, so the World Health Organization has defined this bacterium as a priority pathogen for research. In the case of Mexico, different strains belonging to a sequence-type (ST309) that is considered as high-risk due to its wide geographical distribution in different countries, and its high levels of antimicrobial resistance have been isolated, so the research with this bacterium is an active field. In a contrasting way, it has been recognized for decades, that some metabolites produce by this bacterium, like rhamnolipids and pyocyanin, have important biotechnological applications. In this review, some uses of these metabolites in healthrelated applications are presented, as well as some strategies that have been followed to produce them at an industrial scale, despite P. aeruginosa virulence.
Keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Rhamnolipids. Pyocyanin.