Monoclonal antibodies provide protection against ocular Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection

Abstract

A panel of well characterized monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against outer membrane proteins H2, or F (porin) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were examined to determine whether they exhibited any protective effect against subsequent ocular challenge with the bacteria topically applied to the scarified corneal surface. Mice were observed macroscopically following bacterial challenge and the degree of ocular disease graded on a scale of 0 to 4 (0, normal, fully protected cornea; 4, corneal perforation or phthisis, not protected). Mice treated intravenously with either MAb MA1-6 (anti-H2) or MA2-10 (anti-F), or a combination of these two MAbs and MAb MA4-4 (anti-F), two hours before corneal challenge with the viable bacteria, exhibited significantly less corneal disease than mice either not treated with the MAbs, treated with MA4-4 alone or treated with MAb MA1-3 (anti-I). The latter MAb is directed against an outer membrane epitope that is not surface exposed. Light and transmission electron microscopic histopathology also was employed and provided confirmatory evidence to support the macroscopic analyses.