Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major bacterial infectious agent of the eye. A novel protease recently isolated from P. aeruginosa was studied for role in infection. Tear fluid was the in vivo component examined to determine whether it contained the unknown protease's in vivo substrate. Protease activity assays and tear SDS-PAGE gels were the analytical tests used to determine the samples' effects on each other. Activity assays showed no significant decrease in protease activity when treated with tear fluid. SDS-PAGE gels showed no major tear protein breakdown when treated with protease. In conclusion, the major tear proteins are not the unknown protease's in vivo substrate.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Brennan, Janet Lynn

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 99D064M

Advisor

• Adams, David S.

Year

• 1999

Sponsor

• UMass Medical School

Date created

• 1999-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright