Journal of molecular medicine : official organ of the "Gesellschaft Deutscher Naturforscher und Ärzte"
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic pathogen that has become a serious problem due to increased rates of antibiotic resistance. Due to this along with a dearth in novel antibiotic development, especially against Gram-negative pathogens, new therapeutic strategies are needed to prevent a post-antibiotic era. Here, we describe the importance of the vacJ/Mla pathway in resisting bactericidal actions of the host innate immune response. ⋯ When exposed to human whole blood and serum complement, the vacJ - mutant was killed more rapidly when compared to the wild-type parent strain and complemented mutant. Finally, in an in vivo mouse lung infection model, infection with the vacJ - mutant resulted in reduced mortality, lower bacterial burden, and reduced lung damage when compared to the wild-type strain. This study highlights the potential in therapeutically targeting the VacJ/Mla pathway in sensitizing P. aeruginosa to killing by the host innate immune response.