Identification of bacterial factors involved in virulence and shared by main serogroups of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Hospital-acquired infections are the fourth leading cause of patient death. Doctor Roux is tackling the most prevalent of these nosocomial infections – pneumonia – caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. He began by successfully identifying the proteins responsible for the passage of bacteria from the environment into the guts of immunosuppressed mice. These are perfect targets for hospital-acquired infections, mimicking hospitalized patients weakened by anti-cancer or anti-burn treatments. Dr. Roux has also singled out the genetic mechanisms for the bacteria’s acquired resistance to antibiotics. He is now investigating Pseudomonas infection in the lungs. Indeed, in hospitals, these bacteria are most often found in ventilator-associated pneumonia. The in-depth and thorough understanding of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection provided by Dr. Roux’s research could soon result in a vaccine against pneumonia and the other diseases caused by these bacteria.