PURIFIED PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA PA-I LECTIN INDUCES GUT GROWTH WHEN ORALLY INGESTED BY RATS

The effects of PA-I lectin isolated from the human pathogen Pseudomona s aeruginosa upon cellular metabolism in vivo have been studied using the rat gut as a model system. Orally ingested PA-I lectin stimulated metabolic activity and induced polyamine accumulation and growth in th e small intestine, caecum and colon. The nature and extent of the chan ges induced by PA-I lectin were similar to those caused by dietary kid ney bean lectin and were likely to lead to impaired epithelial cell fu nction and integrity. This finding contributes to our understanding of the possible roles of these lectins in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infecti on.