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Cell-surface<br />

Proteases<br />

Haemolys<strong>in</strong>s<br />

O<strong>the</strong>r factors<br />

Virulence Factor Role<br />

Pili Adhesion to surfaces and<br />

Flagella Motility<br />

Type Three Secretion<br />

System (<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g tox<strong>in</strong>s<br />

ExoS, ExoT, ExoU)<br />

3<br />

motility (type IV)<br />

Translocates numerous<br />

effectors <strong>in</strong>to host cells<br />

Alg<strong>in</strong>ate Bi<strong>of</strong>ilm Adhesion to surfaces and<br />

LasA & LasB<br />

Alkal<strong>in</strong>e Protease<br />

Phospholipase C<br />

Rhamnolipid<br />

defence aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong><br />

environment<br />

Aid tissue <strong>in</strong>vasion<br />

Aid tissue <strong>in</strong>vasion<br />

Pyocyan<strong>in</strong> Antimicrobial<br />

ExoA Inhibits prote<strong>in</strong><br />

biosyn<strong>the</strong>sis<br />

Table 1-1 Summary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> common <strong>virulence</strong> factors with<strong>in</strong> P. aerug<strong>in</strong>osa<br />

<strong>The</strong> work described <strong>in</strong> this <strong>the</strong>sis <strong>in</strong>vestigates P. aerug<strong>in</strong>osa <strong>virulence</strong> <strong>in</strong> a mur<strong>in</strong>e<br />

respiratory model <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>fection. <strong>The</strong>refore <strong>the</strong> focus <strong>of</strong> this <strong>in</strong>troduction is to provide<br />

a background <strong>of</strong> P. aerug<strong>in</strong>osa as a respiratory pathogen. P. aerug<strong>in</strong>osa is<br />

associated with two types <strong>of</strong> respiratory <strong>in</strong>fection with<strong>in</strong> humans; acute and chronic.<br />

Acute <strong>in</strong>fection usually occurs <strong>in</strong> hospitalised patients us<strong>in</strong>g a ventilator to aid<br />

breath<strong>in</strong>g. P. aerug<strong>in</strong>osa is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lead<strong>in</strong>g causes <strong>of</strong> hospital-acquired<br />

pneumonia, caus<strong>in</strong>g significant morbidity and mortality. Ventilator-associated<br />

pneumonia caused by <strong>in</strong>fection with P. aerug<strong>in</strong>osa is reported to have a high<br />

mortality rate <strong>of</strong> 70-80% (Chastre & Fagon 2002). Research <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> <strong>virulence</strong> <strong>of</strong> P.<br />

aerug<strong>in</strong>osa <strong>in</strong> ventilator-associated pneumonia has focused on <strong>the</strong> type III secretion<br />

system (TTSS), which secretes four exotox<strong>in</strong>s known as ExoS, ExoT, ExoU and<br />

ExoY. ExoU is a potent effector <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> TTSS and <strong>in</strong> ventilator-associated<br />

pneumonia it is correlated with more severe disease <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> morbidity and<br />

mortality. It has also been reported that 40% <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> isolates from <strong>the</strong>se cases harbour

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