title: Inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with a recombinant RNA-based viral vector expressing human β-defensin 4.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Harassed with extensive epithelial burn wounds, patients can be affected by complications, such as infection, hypovolemic shock, hypothermia, and respiratory failure. Immediate first aid and followed supportive cares are critical for the prevention of severe complications. However, secondary bacterial infection is hard to be controlled in burn patients, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is one of the top listed pathogens perturbing burn wounds beyond the antibiotics spectrum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To find the way for efficacious protection from the pseudomonas-mediated complications in burn patients, we assessed the in vitro and in vivo inhibitory values of human β-defensin 4 (hBD4), which is known as a member of the cationic, antimicrobial peptides found in human cells of many kinds. The Newcastle disease virus (NDV) was used as a viral vector for the expression of hBD4 in burn wounds. Expressed from the recombinant NDV (rNDV-hBD4), hBD4 effectively inhibited the pseudomonal growths in cell culture media. In a mouse model, severely burn-injured skin was recovered by the direct installation of the rNDV-hBD4 infected cells in the burn wounds whereas that of control mice remained severely damaged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that the application of hBD4 may protect burn patients from secondary pseudomonal infection and provide a therapeutic potential for burn wound treatment.
authors.forename: Sehee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jin Il
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ilseob
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Joon-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Min-Woong
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Donghwan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seok-Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Hyejin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mee Sook
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyung-Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Jin-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yong Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Wook
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, and the Institute for Viral Diseases, Korea University, Seoul 136-705, Republic of Korea. ms0392@korea.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Man-Seong
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D001691:Biological Therapy / Q000379:methods; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009522:Newcastle disease virus / Q000235:genetics; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; C039919:RNA, recombinant; D023083:beta-Defensins; D012313:RNA