title: Modelling host tissue degradation by extracellular bacterial pathogens.
abstract: Extracellular bacterial pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa are able to penetrate into host tissues (given an initial breech in the outer barrier, e.g. a wound) through the action of exo-toxins and degradative exo-enzymes. A mathematical model of this process is presented which, in the absence of significant immune response, predicts the progression of the bacteria into the tissue as a travelling wave whose velocity can be determined explicitly in terms of the model parameters. Simple in vitro experiments in protein-based matrices are performed which yield results consistent with this behaviour. A complementary in vitro experimental system with distinct qualitative behaviour is also studied, giving further insight and confidence in the modelling approach.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mathematical Medicine, Theoretical Mechanics Section, School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Koerber
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Croft
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Sockett
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar; D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000382:microbiology; D005780:Gelatin; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008433:Mathematics; D008954:Models, Biological; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D005780:Gelatin; D000362:Agar