Biochemical alterations in the mouse induced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its slime glycolipoprotein.

Mice, injected with either live cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or its slime glycolipoprotein (GLP), developed similar lethal syndromes. Within 14 h, biochemical changes in the sera, such as increased urea, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and creatinine, as well as decreased glucose, albumin, total protein, uric acid, and alkaline phosphatase, indicated liver and renal dysfunction. These marked alterations were in contrast with the minimal histopathological changes that occurred in these organs. Either live cell or GLP challenge also induced haemolysis in vivo. Immunization with GLP protected mice against most biochemical changes when challenged with live cells but did not protect GLP-challenged mice against the biochemical alterations assayed in the sera.