Therapeutic effect of immunization with OEP, protease toxoid and elastase toxoid on corneal ulcers in mice due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.

The effectiveness of immunizing mice with protease toxoid (PT) or elastase toxoid (ET) on the corneal ulcerization due to either protease or elastase were investigated. Consequently, mice immunized with either PT or ET were protected from corneal ulcers experimentally induced by the homologous enzyme, either protease or elastase. Similarly, two kinds of rabbit immune sera, anti-PT and anti-ET, were found to prevent corneal ulcers by the homologous enzyme. Then, the therapeutic effects of vaccination with a single or mixed vaccine consisting of one, two or three components, i.e., PT, ET and/or the common antigen (OEP) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were examined on corneal ulcers in mice produced by live cultures of the bacteria. For the same purpose, administration of a single or combined rabbit immune sera against PT, ET and OEP was conducted. As a result, vaccination with the three-component-mixed vaccine or administration with rabbit immune sera combined with anti-PT and anti-ET sera in addition to anti-OEP serum, were found to be the most effective in preventing corneal ulceration as well as in treating corneal ulcers in mice.