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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
09:22
Establishing a Porcine Ex Vivo Cornea Model for Studying Drug Treatments against Bacterial Keratitis
Published on: May 12, 2020
Current concepts: contact lens related Pseudomonas keratitis
Danielle M Robertson1, W Matthew Petroll, James V Jester
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9057, USA.
Summary
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) causes microbial keratitis in contact lens wearers. Blocking lipid raft formation prevents PA invasion of corneal cells, offering a new strategy against this infection.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) remains a primary cause of microbial keratitis in contact lens users, despite advancements in lens materials.
- Intracellular invasion of corneal epithelial cells by PA is increasingly recognized as a key factor in infection pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms of intracellular invasion by PA into corneal epithelial cells.
- To examine factors influencing this invasion, including contact lenses, hypoxia, PA strains, CFTR, and lipid rafts.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of in vitro and in vivo studies.
- Analysis of the role of membrane lipid rafts in PA internalization.
Main Results:
- Contact lenses, hypoxia, specific PA strains, and CFTR influence PA's intracellular invasion.
- Membrane lipid rafts are crucial mediators of PA internalization into corneal epithelial cells.
Conclusions:
- Non-toxic blockade of lipid raft formation effectively prevents PA internalization.
- Targeting lipid rafts presents a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing or treating contact lens-related PA microbial keratitis.
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