title: Role of exoenzyme S in chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections.
abstract: Exoenzyme S is an extracellular ADP-ribosyltransferase enzyme produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa deficient in this enzyme have been shown to have reduced virulence in infections of burned mice. The contribution of exoenzyme S to the pathogenesis of chronic lung infections with this organism was evaluated by examining the incidence of exoenzyme S production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from cystic fibrosis patients and comparing an exoenzyme S deficient mutant and its exoenzyme S producing parent in a rat chronic lung infection model. Of 51 isolates examined, 43% produced detectable levels of exoenzyme S. While both the exoenzyme S deficient mutant and its parent strain were equally capable of colonizing and persisting in rat lungs, the exoenzyme S producing parent elicited a greater degree of lung damage. These data suggest that exoenzyme S contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic lung infections.
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Nicas
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stenzel
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lile
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Iglewski
mesh_terms: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D009713:Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology*; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000201:enzymology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; C444820:exoenzyme S; D009713:Nucleotidyltransferases