# GENETICS OF VIRULENCE IN PSEUDOMONAS SPECIES

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 1988 · $184,366

## Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruqinosa is a gram negative bacterium which
primarily causes infection in compromised patients such as those
with cancer, burns or Cystic Fibrosis.  In comparison to other
gram negative infections these infections have a particularly high
mortality rate.  This organism produces a varitey of extracellular
factors which may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of
human infections, but the actual function of these determinants in
even one kind of Pseudomonas infection is not yet fully
understood.  Additionally, it has become clear that the virulence
of Pseudomonas is dependent upon the ability of this organism to
scavenge certain nutrients which are limiting during an infection,
such as iron and inorganic phosphate.  Interestingly, these
nutrients also regulate the expression of virulence factors (toxins)
of Pseudomonas.  Therefore, an understanding of the regulation of
these toxins is critical to understanding the pathogenesis of
Pseudomonas.  The overall goal of this research is to understand
the role of Exotoxin A (ETA) and phospholipase C (PLC) in the
pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa and to elucidate how the regulation
of these toxins contributes to the virulence of this opportunistic
pathogen.  These studies may lead to the rational development of
improved therapeutic and prophylactic measures for infections
caused by this organism.  The immediate objectives are to use
biochemical, immunological and recombinant DNA methods to
characterize the structural genes encoding these toxins and to
determine at the molecular level the mechanisms regulating their
synthesis.  Gene fusion methods will also be used to study the
regulation of ETA and PLC synthesis.  We will use recombinant
DNA methods and classical microbial genetics to construct
precisely defined mutants which are altered in their ability to
produce ETA and PLC.  These mutants will then be characterized
in biological models (cell culture and whole animal) relevant to
Pseudomonas infections.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3126495
- **Project number:** 2R01AI015940-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **SAM.gov UEI:** MW8JHK6ZYEX8
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael L. Vasil
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $184,366
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1979-04-01 → 1993-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3126495

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3126495, GENETICS OF VIRULENCE IN PSEUDOMONAS SPECIES (2R01AI015940-09). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3126495. Licensed CC0.

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