Nature medicine
-
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that can cause fatal acute lung infections in critically ill individuals. Damage to the lung epithelium is associated with the expression of toxins that are directly injected into eukaryotic cells through a type Ill-mediated secretion and translocation mechanism. ⋯ Vaccination against PcrV ensured the survival of challenged mice and decreased lung inflammation and injury. Antibodies to PcrV inhibited the translocation of type III toxins.