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Updated: Nov 7, 2025
Establishing a Porcine Ex Vivo Cornea Model for Studying Drug Treatments against Bacterial Keratitis
Published on: May 12, 2020
Prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine against Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis using bacterial membrane vesicles
Saori Ito1, Jutaro Nakamura1, Michiko Fukuta1
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan.
Purpose:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) infection is one of the major causes of keratitis. However, effective prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines against P. aeruginosa keratitis have yet to be developed. In this study, we explored the use of P. aeruginosa membrane vesicles (MVs) as a prophylactic vaccine as well as the use of immune sera derived from P. aeruginosa MV-immunized animals as a treatment for P. aeruginosa corneal infections in C57BL/6 mice.
Methods:
C57BL/6 mice were intramuscularly immunized with P. aeruginosa MVs; the mouse corneas were then scarified and topically infected with several P. aeruginosa strains, followed by determination of corneal clinical score and corneal bacterial load. Next, immune sera derived from P. aeruginosa MV-immunized ICR mice were administered intraperitoneally to naïve C57BL/6 mice, followed by topical P. aeruginosa challenge. Finally, the immune sera were also used as a topical treatment in the mice with established P. aeruginosa corneal infections.
Results:
P. aeruginosa-specific IgG and IgA antibodies induced by intramuscular immunization were detected not only in the sera but also in the eye-wash solution. Both active and passive immunization significantly inhibited P. aeruginosa corneal infection. Finally, topical treatment with immune sera in the mice with established P. aeruginosa corneal infections notably decreased the corneal clinical score and corneal bacterial load.
Conclusions:
P. aeruginosa keratitis can be attenuated by vaccination of P. aeruginosa MVs and topical application of P. aeruginosa MV-specific immune sera.
Insights
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) membrane vesicles (MVs) show promise as a vaccine to prevent keratitis. Immune sera from P. aeruginosa MV-immunized animals effectively treated existing P. aeruginosa corneal infections in mice.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a leading cause of bacterial keratitis.
- Current prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines against P. aeruginosa keratitis are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate P. aeruginosa membrane vesicles (MVs) as a prophylactic vaccine.
- To evaluate immune sera from MV-immunized animals as a treatment for P. aeruginosa corneal infections.
Main Methods:
- Mice were immunized with P. aeruginosa MVs.
- Corneal infection models were established and evaluated for clinical score and bacterial load.
- Passive immunization and topical treatment with immune sera were assessed.
Main Results:
- P. aeruginosa-specific IgG and IgA antibodies were induced and detected in serum and eye washes.
- Both active and passive immunization significantly inhibited P. aeruginosa corneal infection.
- Topical immune sera treatment reduced clinical scores and bacterial load in established infections.
Conclusions:
- P. aeruginosa keratitis can be attenuated through vaccination with P. aeruginosa MVs.
- Topical application of P. aeruginosa MV-specific immune sera offers a therapeutic approach.
