Passive protection against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in an experimental leukopenic mouse model

Infect Immun. 1983 May;40(2):659-64. doi: 10.1128/iai.40.2.659-664.1983.

Abstract

An experimental leukopenic mouse model was used to evaluate the protective capacities of immunoglobulin G (IgG) fractions directed against toxin A (AT-IgG), elastase (AE-IgG), and lipopolysaccharide (ALPS-IgG) against fatal Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Statistically significant protection, as measured by long-term survival, was observed only when mice were treated with serotype-specific ALPS-IgG. The mean lethal dose for P. aeruginosa could be increased by as much as 6,600-fold for mice given ALPS-IgG as compared to mice which received only normal rabbit IgG. ALPS-IgG afforded high levels of protection, even when administered up to 6 h postchallenge. Experiments designed to monitor the growth and spread of a locally administered challenge showed that ALPS-IgG prevented bacteremia and organ colonization, which were pronounced in control animals. The effectiveness of combined antibiotic and immune therapy was tested. Gentamicin alone or in combination with AT-IgG or AE-IgG provided no detectable protection. However, its use with ALPS-IgG afforded substantially higher levels of protection than ALPS-IgG alone.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial*
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Bacterial Toxins / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gentamicins / therapeutic use
  • Immunization, Passive*
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Leukopenia / immunology*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / immunology
  • Mice
  • Pancreatic Elastase / immunology
  • Pseudomonas Infections / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Gentamicins
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Pancreatic Elastase