Biochemical and Genetic Studies of Iron-Regulated (Exotoxin A) and Phosphate-Regulated (Hemolysin Phospholipase C) Virulence Factors Pseudomonas aeruginosa

摘要

Since the pathogenesis of Pseudomonal disease was originally investigated in the 19th century by Carl Gessard, it has become increasingly clear that Pseudomonas aeruginosa elaborates multiple extracellular factors or toxins which may in some defined manner contribute to the pathogenesis of Pseudomonas infections. For this reason (i.e. multiple toxins) and others, it has been difficult to clearly define the pathogenic mechanisms of this organism in terms of the more classical toxigenic bacterial diseases (e. g. diphtheria, cholera). However, recently application of recombinant DNA methodology coupled with more conventional approaches including biochemical, physiological and classical microbial genetics appears promising to understanding the complexities of P. aeruginosa virulence. In this report we will focus on biochemical and genetic studies from my laboratory and others involving two extracellular toxins of P. aeruginosa; exotoxin A and the heat-labile hemolysin or phospholipase C (PLC). It is hoped that these kind of studies will ultimately lead to answers to some of the more relevant questions regarding the virulence of P. aeruginosa as well as the basic biology of this important pathogen.