title: The contribution of exoproducts to virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
abstract: Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces a large number of extracellular products which may contribute to its virulence. We have employed a genetic approach to determine the contribution of toxin A, exoenzyme S, elastase and alkaline protease to the pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa. Mutations have been introduced with chemicals or transposons. Mutants have been identified using immunological, chemical, or toxicity assays. Mutants were extensively characterized in vitro to ascertain that they were identical to their parent strain except for the production of the desired product. Appropriate mutants were compared with their parent strains in several animal models: the burned mouse model, the mouse corneal infection model, and a rat model of chronic lung infection. The data indicate that virulence of P. aeruginosa is multifactorial. Further, the relative contribution of a given P. aeruginosa product may vary with the type of infection.
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Nicas
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Iglewski
mesh_terms: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000235:genetics; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D009713:Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D051381:Rats; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors; D000097668:Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A
chemical_list: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D010450:Endopeptidases; D005098:Exotoxins; D009713:Nucleotidyltransferases; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D037521:Virulence Factors; D000097668:Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A; C444820:exoenzyme S; C032923:microbial serine proteinases