Mechanism ofPseudomonas aeruginosaSmall Protease (PASP), a Corneal Virulence Factor

Properties of PASP: a Pseudomonas protease capable of mediating corneal erosions.

PURPOSE To analyze PASP in terms of its gene distribution and expression, its corneal pathologic effects, its enzymatic properties, and the protectiveness of the immune response to this protease. METHODS Twenty-five strains of P. aeruginosa were analyzed for the PASP gene and secreted protein by PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Active recombinant (r)PASP (10 microg/20 microL) or h...

Pseudomonas keratitis. The role of an uncharacterized exoprotein, protease IV, in corneal virulence.

PURPOSE The role of exoproteins in the pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis was investigated in three animal models by assessing the relationship between corneal virulence and the activities of exotoxin A, elastase, alkaline protease, and an uncharacterized protease, protease IV. METHODS The four Pseudomonal strains tested included a prototype strain (ATCC 27853) producing exotoxi...

Pseudomonas aeruginosa protease IV produces corneal damage and contributes to bacterial virulence.

PURPOSE A Pseudomonas mutant deficient in protease IV has significantly reduced virulence in experimental keratitis. In the present study, the corneal toxicity of purified protease IV and its ability to augment the virulence of protease-IV-deficient bacteria were analyzed. METHODS The toxicity of purified protease IV was determined by intrastromally injecting the exoenzyme (20-200 ng) into th...

Resistance mechanism of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 protease to inhibitors: A molecular dynamic approach

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease inhibitors comprise an important class of drugs used in HIV treatments. However, mutations of protease genes accelerated by low fidelity of reverse transcriptase yield drug resistant mutants of reduced affinities for the inhibitors. This problem is considered to be a serious barrier against HIV treatment for the foreseeable future. In this st...

A Mechanism of Virulence: Virulent