Pseudomonas aeruginosaProtease IV: A Corneal Virulence Factor of Low Immunogenicity
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Armando R. Caballero; Brett A. Thibodeaux; Richard J. O'Callaghan; Lee S. Engel; Mary E. Marquart; Joseph J. Dajcs
- Source
- Ocular Immunology and Inflammation. 13:169-182
- Subject
- Virulence Factors
Blotting, Western
Colony Count, Microbial
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
In Vitro Techniques
Biology
medicine.disease_cause
Eye Infections, Bacterial
Virulence factor
Microbiology
law.invention
In vivo
law
medicine
Animals
Immunology and Allergy
Pseudomonas Infections
Keratitis
medicine.diagnostic_test
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Immunogenicity
Antibodies, Bacterial
Virology
Recombinant Proteins
Disease Models, Animal
Ophthalmology
Titer
Treatment Outcome
Immunoassay
Recombinant DNA
biology.protein
Immunization
Rabbits
Antibody
Peptide Hydrolases
- Language
- ISSN
- 1744-5078
0927-3948
Purpose: To study antibody production to Pseudomonas aeruginosa protease IV (PIV) for immunoassay development and to assess the possible role of antibody in arresting corneal damage. Methods: Rabbits were immunized with PIV, urea-soluble recombinant PIV (rPIV), or precipitated rPIV. Antibody was analyzed by ELISA and Western blotting. Antibody-mediated inhibition of PIV activity was tested by colorimetric assay and during keratitis by slit-lamp examination of infected eyes. Results: Antibody was not produced after PIV immunization but was induced by rPIV. Rabbits immunized first with soluble and then precipitated rPIV produced high titers (log10) to rPIV (4.28 ± 0.09) and significantly higher titers to PIV (3.90 ± 0.06) compared to the other immunized groups. Antibody to rPIV reacted with PIV, but neither neutralized enzyme activity in vitro nor protected infected rabbits in vivo. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that PIV is a virulence factor which can escape a protective immune response.