In vivo studies with collagenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A collagenase nanogel backpack improves CAR-T cell therapy outcomes in pancreatic cancer

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of haematological malignancies. Challenges in overcoming physical barriers however greatly limit CAR-T cell efficacy in solid tumours. Here we show that an approach based on collagenase nanogel generally improves the outcome of T cell-based therapies, and specifically of CAR-T cell therapy. The nanogels are created by cross-linking collagenase and subsequently modifying them with a CXCR4 antagonist peptide. These nanogels can bind CAR-T cells via receptor-ligand interaction, resulting in cellular backpack delivery systems. The nanogel backpacks modulate tumoural infiltration and localization of CAR-T cells by surmounting physical barriers and disrupting chemokine-mediated CAR-T cell imprisonment, thereby addressing their navigation deficiency within solid tumours. Our approach offers a promising strategy for pancreatic cancer therapy and holds potential for advancing CAR-T cell therapy towards clinical applications.

Collagenase-producing bacteria are common in anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery: a systematic review

PURPOSE

Some gut bacteria can produce enzymes (collagenases) that can break down collagen in the intestinal wall. This could be a part of the pathophysiology of anastomotic leakage (AL). This systematic review aimed to investigate if such bacteria were present more frequently in AL patients versus non-AL patients following colorectal surgery.

METHODS

This systematic review was reported according to the PRISMA and AMSTAR guidelines. Before the literature search, a study protocol was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42022363454). We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane CENTRAL on April 9th, 2023, for randomized and observational human studies of AL following colorectal surgery with information on gastrointestinal bacteria. The primary outcome was bacteria with the potential to produce collagenase. The risk of bias was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, as all studies were observational.

RESULTS

We included 15 studies, with a total of 52,945 patients, of which 1,747 had AL, and bacteriological information from feces, mucosa, the resected specimen, or drain fluid was presented. In 10 of the 15 studies, one or more collagenase-producing bacteria were identified in the patients with AL. Neither the bacteria nor the collagenase production were quantified in any of the studies. The studies varied greatly in terms of sample material, analytical method, and time of collection. Studies using DNA sequencing methods did not report findings of collagenase-producing bacteria.

CONCLUSION

Collagenase-producing bacteria are more common in patients with AL following colorectal surgery than in patients without AL, but the significance is unclear. From the current studies, it is not possible to determine the pathogenicity of the individual gut bacteria.

β-Lactamase-Responsive Hydrogel Drug Delivery Platform for Bacteria-Triggered Cargo Release

Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health threat that complicates the treatment of infections. β-Lactamase enzymes, which hydrolyze the β-lactam ring present in many common antibiotics, are a major cause of this resistance and are produced by a broad range of bacterial pathogens. Here, we developed hydrogels that degrade specifically in the presence of β-lactamases and β-lactamase-producing bacteria as a platform for bacteria-triggered drug delivery. A maleimide-functionalized β-lactamase-cleavable cephalosporin was used as a crosslinker in the fabrication of hydrogels through end-crosslinked polymerization with multiarm thiol-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) macromers via Michael-type addition. We demonstrated that only hydrogels containing the responsive crosslinker were degraded by β-lactamases and β-lactamase-producing bacteria in vitro and in an ex vivo porcine skin infection model. Fluorescent polystyrene nanoparticles, encapsulated in the hydrogels as model cargo, were released at rates that closely tracked hydrogel wet mass loss, confirming β-lactamase-triggered controlled cargo release. Nonresponsive hydrogels, lacking the β-lactam crosslinker, remained stable in the presence of β-lactamases and β-lactamase-producing bacteria and exhibited no change in mass or nanoparticle release. Furthermore, the responsive hydrogels remained stable in non-β-lactamase enzymes, including collagenases and lipases. These hydrogels have the potential to be used as a bacteria-triggered drug delivery system to control unnecessary exposure to encapsulated antimicrobials, which can provide effective infection treatment without exacerbating resistance.

Tumor Microenvironment Modulating Functional Nanoparticles for Effective Cancer Treatments

Cancer is one of the major diseases that threaten human life worldwide. Despite advances in cancer treatment techniques, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, it is still difficult to cure cancer because of the resistance mechanism of cancer cells. Current understanding of tumor biology has revealed that resistance to these anticancer therapies is due to the tumor microenvironment (TME) represented by hypoxia, acidity, dense extracellular matrix, and immunosuppression. This review demonstrates the latest strategies for effective cancer treatment using functional nanoparticles that can modulate the TME. Indeed, preclinical studies have shown that functional nanoparticles can effectively modulate the TME to treat refractory cancer. This strategy of using TMEs with controllable functional nanoparticles is expected to maximize cancer treatment efficiency in the future by combining it with various modern cancer therapeutics.

Effect of Acoustic Radiation Force on the Distribution of Nanoparticles in Solid Tumors

Acoustic radiation force (ARF) might improve the distribution of nanoparticles (NPs) in tumors. To study this, tumors growing subcutaneously in mice were exposed to focused ultrasound (FUS) either 15 min or 4 h after the injection of NPs, to investigate the effect of ARF on the transport of NPs across the vessel wall and through the extracellular matrix. Quantitative analysis of confocal microscopy images from frozen tumor sections was performed to estimate the displacement of NPs from blood vessels. Using the same experimental exposure parameters, ARF was simulated and compared with the experimental data. Enhanced interstitial transport of NPs in tumor tissues was observed when FUS (10 MHz, acoustic power 234 W/cm², 3.3% duty cycle) was given either 15 min or 4 h after NP administration. According to acoustic simulations, the FUS generated an ARF per unit volume of 2.0×10⁶ N/m³. The displacement of NPs was larger when FUS was applied 4 h after NP injection compared with after 15 min. This study shows that ARF might contribute to a modest improved distribution of NPs into the tumor interstitium.

Combinatorial approach for screening and assessment of multiple therapeutic enzymes from marine isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa AR01

Industrialization and modernization have led to humans being more susceptible to diseases. Therapeutic enzymes from traditional earthbound bacterial origin result have less therapeutic value. Hence, the hunt for a novel source of enzymes is indispensable. Twenty different marine bacterial strains were isolated from mangrove soil around S. P. Pattinum, Tamilnadu, India. From repeated qualitative and quantitative experiments, the study results were that, out of twenty bacterial isolates, only one Gram-negative bacterium was positive for multiple therapeutic enzymes such as asparaginase, glutaminase, uricase and collagenase. Based on its 99% 16S rRNA sequence similarity with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the isolate was designated as Pseudomonas aeruginosa AR01. Modified minimal medium amended with asparagine results in a simple and cost-effective, one-pot production medium for enhanced production and easy purification of all therapeutic enzymes. The biochemical studies imply that the therapeutic enzymes from P. aeruginosa AR01 may find a significant role in medical applications. The in vitro cytotoxic study reveals that the anticancer enzyme from P. aeruginosa is considerably effective with an IC50 value of 12 μg mL-1 against K-562 cell line. Colony PCR was performed for the detection of specific therapeutic enzyme-coding genes in the genome of P. aeruginosa AR01. PCR results confirm that P. aeruginosa AR01 possesses nucleotide regions for corresponding therapeutic enzymes in its gene cluster. BLASTN and BLASTX analyses of the partial nucleotide sequences of therapeutic enzymes were deposited in GenBank. The results appear so promising that Pseudomonas aeruginosa AR01 may be a potent candidate for medical biotechnology.

Digesting a Path Forward: The Utility of Collagenase Tumor Treatment for Improved Drug Delivery

Collagen and hyaluronan are the most abundant components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and their overexpression in tumors is linked to increased tumor growth and metastasis. These ECM components contribute to a protective tumor microenvironment by supporting a high interstitial fluid pressure and creating a tortuous setting for the convection and diffusion of chemotherapeutic small molecules, antibodies, and nanoparticles in the tumor interstitial space. This review focuses on the research efforts to deplete extracellular collagen with collagenases to normalize the tumor microenvironment. Although collagen synthesis inhibitors are in clinical development, the use of collagenases is contentious and clinically untested in cancer patients. Pretreatment of murine tumors with collagenases increased drug uptake and diffusion 2-10-fold. This modest improvement resulted in decreased tumor growth, but the benefits of collagenase treatment are confounded by risks of toxicity from collagen breakdown in healthy tissues. In this review, we evaluate the published in vitro and in vivo benefits and limitations of collagenase treatment to improve drug delivery.

Development, standardization and testing of a bacterial wound infection model based on ex vivo human skin

Current research on wound infections is primarily conducted on animal models, which limits direct transferability of these studies to humans. Some of these limitations can be overcome by using-otherwise discarded-skin from cosmetic surgeries. Superficial wounds are induced in fresh ex vivo skin, followed by intradermal injection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa under the wound. Subsequently, the infected skin is incubated for 20 hours at 37°C and the CFU/wound are determined. Within 20 hours, the bacteria count increased from 107 to 109 bacteria per wound, while microscopy revealed a dense bacterial community in the collagen network of the upper wound layers as well as numerous bacteria scattered in the dermis. At the same time, IL-1alpha and IL-1beta amounts increased in all infected wounds, while-due to bacteria-induced cell lysis-the IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations rose only in the uninfected samples. High-dosage ciprofloxacin treatment resulted in a decisive decrease in bacteria, but consistently failed to eradicate all bacteria. The main benefits of the ex vivo wound model are the use of healthy human skin, a quantifiable bacterial infection, a measureable donor-dependent immune response and a good repeatability of the results. These properties turn the ex vivo wound model into a valuable tool to examine the mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions and to test antimicrobial agents.

Extracellular matrix remodeling in vivo for enhancing tumor-targeting efficiency of nanoparticle drug carriers using the pulsed high intensity focused ultrasound

Dense and stiff extracellular matrix (ECM) in heterogeneous tumor tissues can inhibit deep penetration of nanoparticle drug carriers and decreases their therapeutic efficacy. Herein, we suggest the ECM remodeling strategy by the pulsed high intensity focused ultrasound (Pulsed-HIFU) technology for enhanced tumor-targeting of nanoparticles. First, we clearly observed that the tumor-targeting efficacy and tissue penetration of intravenously injected Cy5.5-labled glycol chitosan nanoparticles (Cy5.5-CNPs) were greatly inhibited in tumor tissue containing high collagen and hyaluronan contents in ECM-rich A549 tumor-bearing mice, compared to in ECM-less SCC7. When collagenase or hyaluronidase was treated by intra-tumoral injection, the amount of collagen and hyaluronan decreased in ECM-rich A549 tumor tissues and more Cy5.5-CNPs penetrated inside the tumor tissue, confirmed using non-invasive optical imaging. Finally, in order to break down the stiff ECM structure, ECM-rich A549 tumor tissues were treated with the relatively low power of Pulse-HIFU (20W/cm²), wherein acute tissue damage was not observed. As we expected, the A549 tumor tissues showed the remodeling of ECM structure after non-invasive Pulsed-HIFU exposure, which resulted in the increased blood flow, decreased collagen contents, and enhanced penetration of CNP_S. Importantly, the tumor targeting efficiency in Pulsed-HIFU-treated A549 tumor tissues was 2.5 times higher than that of untreated tumor tissues. These overall results demonstrate that ECM remodeling and disruption of collagen structure by Pulse-HIFU is promising strategy to enhance the deep penetration and enhanced tumor targeting of nanoparticles in ECM-rich tumor tissues.

A Severe Accident Caused by an Ocellate River Stingray (Potamotrygon motoro) in Central Brazil: How Well Do We Really Understand Stingray Venom Chemistry, Envenomation, and Therapeutics?

Freshwater stingrays cause many serious human injuries, but identification of the offending species is uncommon. The present case involved a large freshwater stingray, Potamotrygon motoro (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae), in the Araguaia River in Tocantins, Brazil. Appropriate first aid was administered within ~15 min, except that an ice pack was applied. Analgesics provided no pain relief, although hot compresses did. Ciprofloxacin therapy commenced after ~18 h and continued seven days. Then antibiotic was suspended; however, after two more days and additional tests, cephalosporin therapy was initiated, and proved successful. Pain worsened despite increasingly powerful analgesics, until debridement of the wound was performed after one month. The wound finally closed ~70 days after the accident, but the patient continued to have problems wearing shoes even eight months later. Chemistry and pharmacology of Potamotrygon venom and mucus, and clinical management of freshwater stingray envenomations are reviewed in light of the present case. Bacterial infections of stingray puncture wounds may account for more long-term morbidity than stingray venom. Simultaneous prophylactic use of multiple antibiotics is recommended for all but the most superficial stingray wounds. Distinguishing relative contributions of venom, mucus, and bacteria will require careful genomic and transcriptomic investigations of stingray tissues and contaminating bacteria.

Modulation of extracellular matrix in cancer is associated with enhanced tumor cell targeting by bacteriophage vectors

Background

Gene therapy has been an attractive paradigm for cancer treatment. However, cancer gene therapy has been challenged by the inherent limitation of vectors that are able to deliver therapeutic genes to tumors specifically and efficiently following systemic administration. Bacteriophage (phage) are viruses that have shown promise for targeted systemic gene delivery. Yet, they are considered poor vectors for gene transfer. Recently, we generated a tumor-targeted phage named adeno-associated virus/phage (AAVP), which is a filamentous phage particle whose genome contains the adeno-associated virus genome. Its effectiveness in delivering therapeutic genes to tumors specifically both in vitro and in vivo has been shown in numerous studies. Despite being a clinically useful vector, a multitude of barriers impede gene transduction to tumor cells. We hypothesized that one such factor is the tumor extracellular matrix (ECM).

Methods

We used a number of tumor cell lines from different species and histological types in 2D monolayers or 3D multicellular tumor spheroid (MCTS) models. To assess whether the ECM is a barrier to tumor cell targeting by AAVP, we depleted the ECM using collagenase, hyaluronidase, or combination of both. We employed multiple techniques to investigate and quantify the effect of ECM depletion on ECM composition (including collagen type I, hyaluronic acid, fibronectin and laminin), and how AAVP adsorption, internalisation, gene expression and therapeutic efficacy are subsequently affected. Data were analyzed using a student’s t test when comparing two groups or one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests when using more than two groups.

Results

We demonstrate that collagenase and hyaluronidase-mediated degradation of tumor ECM affects the composition of collagen, hyaluronic acid and fibronectin. Consequently, AAVP diffusion, internalisation, gene expression and tumor cell killing were enhanced after enzymatic treatment. Our data suggest that enhancement of gene transfer by the AAVP is solely attributed to ECM depletion. We provide substantial evidence that ECM modulation is relevant in clinically applicable settings by using 3D MCTS, which simulates in vivo environments more accurately.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that ECM depletion is an effective strategy to enhance the efficiency of viral vector-guided gene therapy.

In vivo gene expression and immunoreactivity of Leptospira collagenase

Pulmonary hemorrhage is an increasing cause of death of leptospirosis patients. Bacterial collagenase has been shown to be involved in lung hemorrhage induced by various infectious agents. According to Leptospira whole genome study, colA, a gene suggested to code for bacterial collagenase has been identified. We investigated colA gene expression in lung tissues of Leptospira infected hamsters. Golden Syrian Hamsters were injected intraperitoneally with Leptospira interrogans serovar Pyrogenes. The hamsters were sacrificed on days 3, 5 and 7 post-infection and lung tissues were collected for histological examination and RNA extraction. Lung pathologies including atelectasis and hemorrhage were observed. Expression of colA gene in lung tissues was demonstrated by both RT-PCR and real time PCR. In addition, ColA protein was cloned and the purified protein could react with sera from leptospirosis patients. Leptospira ColA protein may play a role in Leptospira survival or pathogenesis in vivo. Its reaction with leptospirosis sera suggests that this protein is immunogenic and could be another candidate for vaccine development.

Collagenase-1 injection improved tumor distribution and gene expression of cationic lipoplex

Elevated interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) in a tumor is a barrier to tumor accumulation of systemic delivery of nanocarriers. In this study, we investigated whether intravenous injection of type I collagenase (collagenase-1) reduced IFP in tumors and increased the accumulation and gene expression of cationic liposome/plasmid DNA complex (lipoplex) in tumors after intravenous injection into mice bearing mouse lung carcinoma LLC tumors. Collagenase-1 reduced the amount of type I collagen in the tumor, and significantly decreased IFP by 65% at 1h after injection. Therefore, collagenase-1 induced 1.5-fold higher accumulation and 2-fold higher gene expression of lipoplex in tumors after intravenous injection. These findings indicated that intravenous injection of collagenase-1 improved the accumulation of lipoplex by decreasing IFP in tumors. These results support the potential use of collagen digestion as a strategy to improve systemic gene delivery into tumors.

In vivo studies with two phospholipase C fractions from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Two phospholipase C fractions were detected in culture supernatants from Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 19660, PAO1, and D10C by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Both hemolytic fractions from strain ATCC 19660 were isolated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and were found to cause paralysis, death, dermonecrosis, footpad swelling, and vascular permeability in mice. In vivo toxicity was directly associated with enzymatic activity.

Specific cleavage of human type III and IV collagens by Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase

Purified Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase cleaved human type III and IV collagens with the formation of specific cleavage products. Furthermore, type I collagen appeared to be slowly cleaved by both P. aeruginosa elastase and alkaline protease. These cleavage fragments from type III and IV collagens were separated from the intact collagen chains by SDS polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis run under reducing conditions, and they were detected by their characteristic Coomassie blue staining pattern. The results of these studies suggest that the pathogenesis of tissue invasion and hemorrhagic tissue necrosis observed in P. aeruginosa infections may be related to the degradation of these collagen types by bacterial extracellular proteases.

Pseudomonas labyrinthitis

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the gram-negative bacterial rod which is often isolated from chronic aural discharge. This microorganism may also cause necrotizing infection of the external auditory canal in certain patients with impaired host-defense mechanisms. Involvement of the inner ear by this microbe is extremely rare. In this communication, we report a case of pseudomonas labyrinthitis which resulted from traumatic middle ear injury. Infection produced massive granulations and extensive bone destruction of the otic capsule. This case shows that while P.aeruginosa is usually an avirulent opportunistic pathogen, it may also cause a highly destructive labyrinthitis if the inner ear is entered.

Simple method for collagenase determination in 38 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains

Collagenase enzyme activity of 38 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains and 38 strains of Escherichia coli from various pathological sources was measured by a simple method. This method uses plates with collagen gel. The rate of gel lysis is proportional to the collagenase concentration. The method is simple and requires no special materials or equipment. From the 38 P. aeruginosa strains, 34 were collagenase positive. All 38 strains of E. coli were collagenase negative.

Ascending pyelonephritis with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mice

Elastase- and protease- producing strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa induced ascending pyelonephritis in mice by intracystic challenge. The pelvis was the site of primary foci development and necrotic, purulent lesions spread from the pelvis to the perihilar area and to the cortex. Severe necrosis was a characteristic of the present infection and caused systemic infection and host death without the development of chronic lesions. In animals challenged with inocula great enough to destroy the cystic mucosa, immediate hematogenous systemic infection without cellular responses led to host death.

Isolation and characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO mutant that produces altered elastase

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is cancer that tested as negative for estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and excess human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein which accounts for 15%–20% of all breast cancer cases. TNBC is considered to be a poorer prognosis than other types of breast cancer, mainly because it involves more aggressive phenotypes that are similar to stem cell–like cancer cells (cancer stem cell, CSC). Thus, targeted treatment of TNBC remains a major challenge in clinical practice. This review article surveys the latest evidence concerning the role of genomic alteration in current TNBC treatment responses, current clinical trials and potential targeting sites, CSC and drug resistance, and potential strategies targeting CSCs in TNBC. Furthermore, the role of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in stemness expression, chemoresistance, and metastasis in TNBC and their relevance to potential treatments are also discussed and highlighted.

Isolation and characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO mutant that produces altered elastase

Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO mutants defective in elastase were isolated by plate assays of nitrosoguanidine-mutagenized clones. A total of 75 elastase mutants were isolated from 43,000 mutagenized clones. One mutant (PAO-E64) was apparently identical to the parental strain except for its deficiency in elastase activity. This mutant produced an enzyme which was antigenically indistinguishable from parental elastase. Furthermore, equal levels of elastase antigen were produced by this mutant and its parental strain. The mutant elastase, however, had greatly reduced enzymatic activity. Mutant PAO-E64 is presumed to have a mutation in the structural gene for elastase. We have designated the genotype of the mutation in PAO-E64 as lasA1.

Protease and elastase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: inactivation of human plasma alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor

The present study indicates that crystalline elastase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a very potent inactivator of human plasma alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, the enzyme (E) inactivated the inhibitor (I) almost completely within 1 h at 25 degrees C at a molar ratio of E/I = 1:100. The crystalline P. aeruginosa protease also inactivated the inhibitor, but 100-fold less. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor inactivated by the elastase and protease showed decreases in molecular weight of approximately 5,000 and 10,000, respectively. Regeneration of trypsin was negligible even when bovine trypsin-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex (E/I = 1.0) was treated with the elastase. The affinity of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor to trypsin was much higher than that to elastase. It was suggested that, assuming the pseudomonal proteases are produced and can inactivate alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor in vivo during pseudomonal diseases, the loss of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor activity may permit the endogenous serine proteases to cause tissue destruction.

Microscopic characterization of rabbit lung damage produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa proteases

The intratracheal administration of highly purified Pseudomonas aeruginosa proteases (ca. 10 to 100 microgram) elicited extensive, grossly observable rabbit lung damage by 3 h postinjection. Light and electron microscopic characterization of the lesions revealed: (i) progressive injury and necrosis of type I epithelial cells and capillary endothelial cells from 3 h to 1 day postinjection, and progressively increasing accumulations of erythrocytes, plasma proteins, fibrin, and released type II epithelial cell lamellar bodies in alveolar lumina during that time period; (ii) progressively increasing accumulations of macrophages, but not of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, in alveolar lumina from 3 h to 6 days postinjection; (iii) progressive hyperplasia of type II epithelial cells from 12 h to 4 days postinjection; (iv) progressive infiltration of alveolar septa by mononuclear inflammatory cells (interstitial pneumonitis) from 2 to 6 days postinjection; (v) no loss of alveolar septal connective tissue and no damage to pulmonary arterioles and venules; and (vi) almost normal alveolar structure by ca. 8 days postinjection. The study revealed that the intra-alveolar hemorrhage, the injury and necrosis of alveolar septal cells, and the infiltration by mononuclear cells that have been reported to occur during human pseudomonas pneumonia can also be elicited by the experimental administration of pseudomonas proteases. Thus, the results support the idea that in vivo production and activity of P. aeruginosa proteases is important, at least in part, in eliciting the lung damage characteristic of pseudomonas pneumonia.

Toxic activity against alveolar macrophages of products of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from respiratory and non-respiratory sites

The toxic effect of certain products of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on guinea-pig alveolar macrophages has been studied in an attempt to account for the apparent infrequency with which certain strains of this species are associated with respiratory infection. Texts were carried out on strains derived from the respiratory tract, strains from infection at other sites, and strains from the inanimate hospital environment which were believed not to have been responsible for infection ('environmental' strains). Haemolysin, pigments, enzyme-containing fractions, slime and cell-wall fraction all exhibited toxic activity against macrophages in an in vitro system, although for any given strain of Ps. aeruginosa the haemolysin was by far the most potent factor. The activity of this factor against macrophages was directly proportional to its haemolytic activity against human erythrocytes. The haemolysin fractions of environmental strains, which have previously been found to have little activity on erythrocytes, were also less active against macrophages than haemolysin preparations from 'infective' strains. It is therefore postulated that the ability of a strain of Ps. aeruginosa to initiate respiratory infection may be related to the degree of haemolysin production. The activity of other fractions against macrophages is more variable, but they may contribute in different ways to the development of infection once entry into the lung has been achieved.

Neutralizing antibody to Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin in human sera: evidence for in vivo toxin production during infection

Antibody to Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin was detected in human sera by using a cytotoxicity-neutralization assay. Serum antitoxin was present in high titer in all 14 patients who recovered from serious pseudomonas infections (log2 of 50% neutralization titer, mean +/- standard deviation = 6.0 +/- 1.2). In contrast, serum antitoxin was present in lower titer in four of seven patients with fatal pseudomonas infections (3.3 +/- 2.7, P less than 0.005), in 3 of 7 patients with non-pseudomonas infections (1.4 +/- 0.6 P less than 0.001), and in 6 of 14 normal control subjects (2.0 +/- 1.3, P less than 0.001). Fourfold or greater serum antitoxin rises were demonstrated in two survivors of acute infections, and toxin-neutralizing activity was associated with the immunoglobulin G fraction of human sera. Immunization of rabbits with purified exotoxin also induced high antitoxin titers.

Purification and partial characterization of a collagenolytic enzyme from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A proteinase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibiting collagenolytic activity was purified 1575-fold with a recovery of 24% by use of chemical and chromatographic technics. The enzyme preparation appeared to be homogeneous when subjected to chromatographic, electrophoretic and ultracentrifugational analyses. A standard state sedimentation coefficient of 2.10 S was calculated and further analyses indicated that the enzyme had a molecular weight of 17 500 and dimerizes under certain conditions to yield an apparent molecular weight of 34 000. In addition to insoluble collagen, the enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of congocoll, azocoll, soluble collagen and casein, but did not attack orcein-elastin, azoalbumin, p-toluene eulfonyl-L-arginine methyl ester, benzoyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester, and the hexapeptide N-benzyloxycarbonyl-glycyl-L-prolyglycylglycyl-L-prolyl-L-alanine. Enzymatic activity against congocoll was 6-fold greater at pH 7.5 in Tris with HCl than in phosphate buffer at the same ionic strength. Cobalt, and to a lesser extent, Zn2+ appeared to activate the enzyme, especially in phosphate buffer. NcCN and p-chloromercuribenzoate did not appreciably inhibit enzyme activity, while (NH4)2 SO4, EDTA and cysteine displayed a significant inhibitory effect under certain conditions.

Reduced virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown in the presence of benzalkonium chloride

Resistant cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 which were grown in the presence of 1 mg of benzalkonium chloride (BC) per ml caused only a mild conjunctivitis when they were dropped onto the scratched corneas of rabbits. In contrast, cells of the BC-sensitive parent strain induced a severe keratoconjunctivitis. In addition, the BC-grown cells also had a reduced capacity to produce kidney infections in mice as compared to the parent strain. BC-grown cells acted as weak complex antigens which conferred slight protection against lethal doses of BC-grown cells. No cross-protection to cells of the parent strain occurred. The data indicate that growth in the presence of BC results in cells with reduced virulence.

Physicochemical fractionation of extracellular cornea-damaging proteases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Fractionation of the culture supernatant fluids of a cornea-virulent strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by ammonium sulfate precipitation, diafiltration, isoelectric focusing, ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and sucrose density gradient centrifugation failed to separate the rabbit cornea-damaging activity and the in vitro protease activity of the preparations. Three proteases having similar molecular weights (approximately 20,000) and isoelectric points of approximately 4.6, 5.8, and 8.8 were obtained free of detectable amounts of other known extracellular pseudomonal enzymes. Heating a mixture of the three proteases for 15 min at 80 C resulted in complete loss of protease and cornea-damaging activities. The sterile culture filtrate of a nonproteolytic but lethal toxin-producing strain of P. aeruginosa did not contain cornea-damaging activity. Cultivation of the proteolytic strain in broth containing 4.7% ammonium sulfate yielded a culture supernatant fluid free of protease and cornea-damaging activities. The results obtained support the conclusion that a cornea-virulent strain of P. aeruginosa can produce, in vitro, at least three different extracellular proteases capable of eliciting rapid and extensive damage to rabbit corneas.