Treatment with the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Glycoside Hydrolase PslG Combats Wound Infection by Improving Antibiotic Efficacy and Host Innate Immune Activity

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic, nosocomial bacterial pathogen that forms persistent infections due to the formation of protective communities, known as biofilms. Once the biofilm is formed, the bacteria embedded within it are recalcitrant to antimicrobial treatment and host immune defenses. Moreover, the presence of biofilms in wounds is correlated with chronic infection and delayed healing. The current standard of care for chronic wound infections typically involves physical disruption of the biofilm via debridement and subsequent antimicrobial treatment. The glycoside hydrolases PelA(h) and PslG(h) have been demonstrated in vitro to disrupt biofilm integrity through degradation of the key biofilm matrix exopolysaccharides Pel and Psl, respectively. Herein, we demonstrate that PslG(h) hydrolase therapy is a promising strategy for controlling P. aeruginosa wound infections. Hydrolase treatment of P. aeruginosa biofilms resulted in increased antibiotic efficacy and penetration into the biofilm. PslG(h) treatment of P. aeruginosa biofilms also improved innate immune activity leading to greater complement deposition, neutrophil phagocytosis, and neutrophil reactive oxygen species production. Furthermore, when P. aeruginosa-infected wounds were treated with a combination of PslG(h) and tobramycin, we observed an additive effect leading to greater bacterial clearance than treatments of tobramycin or PslG(h) alone. This study demonstrates that PelA(h) and PslG(h) have promising therapeutic potential and that PslG(h) may aid in the treatment of P. aeruginosa wound infections.