The role of the elastase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in experimental infection.

A characteristic vascular lesion has been described in human systemic infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Forkner et al., 1958; Margaretten et al., 1961: Rabin et al., 1961). In an attempt to elucidate its pathogenesis, experimental animals were infected with P. aeruginosa to reproduce this vascular lesion. It was found that destruction of the arterial elastic lamina was frequently associated with the lesion, suggesting a probable role of the elastase of P. aeruginosa in the pathogenesis. Some of our studies on the elastase of P. aeruginosa are reported here.