This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Anastassiou, E D Articles by Dimitracopoulos, G Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Anastassiou, E D Articles by Dimitracopoulos, G

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J Clin Microbiol. 1989 March; 27(3): 490-494

Comparative evaluation of mitogenicity and basement-membrane-degrading activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa slime glycolipoprotein and alginate.

Department of Microbiology, University of Patras Medical School, Greece.

ABSTRACT

Alginate from a heavily mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain and slime glycolipoprotein obtained from the revertant nonmucoid variant of the mucoid strain were tested for mitogenic activity on human peripheral lymphocytes and for degradation of 3H-labeled basement membranes of the anterior lens capsule of bovine eyes. Slime glycolipoprotein exerted mitogenic activity in concentrations from 50 to 200 micrograms/ml, whereas alginate was not mitogenic as shown by [3H]thymidine uptake. Alginate did not show any basement membrane degradation, whereas slime glycolipoprotein exhibited basement-membrane-degrading activity from 35 to 450 micrograms/ml in a dose-related manner. This activity was inhibited by metal chelators but not thiol protease inhibitors. The results suggest that alginate lacks the mitogenic and biodegrading activities of slime glycolipoprotein; these activities nevertheless need further investigation.