Pseudomonas aeruginosa: The molecular tools of a bacterial survivor

The bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa can thrive in environments as different as the moist, warm tissue in our lungs, and the dry, nutrient-deprived surface of an office wall. Such adaptability makes it problematic in healthcare -- where it causes infections in cases of cystic fibrosis, cancer, HIV, and other immune-compromised conditions -- but also makes it a fascinating subject for study.