Dominant susceptibility effect on the murine corneal response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Natural host resistance to Pseudomonas aeruginosa corneal infection is regulated by two complementing dominant genes PsCR1 and PsCR2 (RS Berk, MA Leon, LD Hazlett. Infect Immun 26:1221-1223, 1979). In this study we have demonstrated a third dominant gene, which determines susceptibility to P. aeruginosa-induced eye damage. This gene was designated as PsCS. The F1 progeny from matings between the resistant DBA/2J strain and the susceptible strain C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ displayed the susceptibility phenotype. Backcross and F2 studies using the C3H/HeJ and DBA/2J strains suggested the presence of two linked PsCS loci.