PREVENTION IN SIGHT FOR BACTERIA-INDUCED BLINDNESS

A scientist based at UNSW is conducting world first research that will help prevent blindness caused by bacterial infection.

The bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, accounts for 70 per cent of all infection associated with contact lens wear, and can lead to complete blindness within 24 hours. Even if doctors kill the bacteria, the eye's response to it can lead to corneal scarring and vision loss.

Dr Nerida Cole, who works at the Cooperative Research Centre for Eye Research and Technology, based at UNSW, has been awarded a grant by Prevent Blindness America to investigate the role of an anti-inflammatory mediator, IL-10, in the eye's response to P. aeruginosa.

"IL-10 is a cytokine, a messenger molecule that tells cells what to do. Adding or taking it away will force the eye to respond (to P. aeruginosa) in a certain way - either better or worse. The response is dependent on the organ it's acting in and the bacteria it's infected with, so you can't predict with one model to the next. Preliminary tests have shown that the absence of IL-10 improves bacterial clearance, but even if it doesn't turn out the way we expect, it's still important to understand how (IL-10) acts in the host response to infection," Dr Cole said.

Current treatments focus on attacking bacteria with drugs like penicillin. However this research,says Dr Cole's supervisor, associate professor Mark Willcox, looks ahead to future treatments that will include cocktails of mediators like IL-10 to control the host response and further reduce damage to the eye.

While Dr. Cole's research "may not turn out to be the ultimate thing, it's a step on the way to finding that cocktail," says Prof. Willcox.

Photos available.

CONTACT DETAILS: Dr Nerida Cole, CRCERT, UNSW, tel. 9385 7531 or Assoc. Professor Mark Willcox, CRCERT, tel. 9385 7412 or Annabel Day, UNSW Public Affairs & Development, tel. 9385 3644.