Biological Effects of <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> Type III-Secreted Proteins on CHO Cells

Abstract

A strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that fails to express known type III-secreted effector proteins was constructed as an expression host. Individual effectors were expressed in trans, and their biological effects on CHO cells were assessed in an acute cellular infection model. Intoxication with ExoS, ExoT, or ExoY resulted in alterations in cell morphology. As shown in previous genetic studies, ExoU expression was linked to acute cytotoxicity.