# The role of exosomes in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Corneal Infection

> **NIH NIH R01** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $405,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is the leading causative agent in microbial keratitis. During contact lens wear,
host defense mechanisms are compromised. This allows PA to breach the tight corneal barrier and infect the
otherwise healthy eye. Recently, exosomes have been implicated as major players in inflammation and
infection. In addition, exosomes are becoming increasingly recognized as potential therapeutic agents.
Our preliminary data shows that there is massive exosome release from corneal epithelial cells during infection
by PA. These exosomes contain a unique mixture of proteases, transcriptional regulators and proteins involved
in immune regulation. We further provide data that indicates that these exosomes both promote neutrophil
activation and convey protection to corneal epithelial cells against further invasion. Moreover, we have found
that exosomes isolated from autologous body fluids have antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties.
Based on our findings, we propose the primary hypothesis that exosomes released from PA-infected corneal
epithelial cells promote PA clearance by innate immune cells and prime non-infected corneal epithelial cells to
defend against PA infection. We further propose the secondary hypothesis that exosomes derived from
exosome rich body fluids contain potent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory mediators that can be harnessed
to promote PA clearance and disease resolution in the cornea.
We will test these hypotheses as follows: Aim 1. Establish how exosomes isolated from PA-infected
corneal epithelial cells and human body fluids impact innate immune cells in vitro. Aim 2. Determine
how exosomes isolated from PA-infected corneal epithelial cells and human body fluids impact the
corneal epithelial response to PA in vitro. Aim 3. Determine whether exosomes isolated from
autologous human body fluids exhibit protective antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties in
the rabbit contact lens model in vivo.
To accomplish these studies, we have compiled a highly collaborative multidisciplinary team and have access
to state of the art resources in the Department of Ophthalmology and UT Southwestern core facilities. These
studies are significant and innovative because they are the first of their kind for PA infection in any
tissue or cell system. The potential therapeutic use of exosomes from human body fluids represents a
major paradigm shift for treating corneal infections and has broad therapeutic implications.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9933923
- **Project number:** 5R01EY029258-02
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** DANIELLE M. ROBERTSON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $405,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-06-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9933923

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9933923, The role of exosomes in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Corneal Infection (5R01EY029258-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9933923. Licensed CC0.

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