These results suggest that the enzyme has a role in damaging phagocytes which would otherwise prevent spread of infection to the blood. Invasins Pseudomonas aeruginosa has a large number of proteases. This may aid in the spread of the organisms from sites of infection. The enzyme is related to V. cholerae hemolysin and Legionella protease. LasA Protease works synergistically with elastase to degrade substrates.
Alkaline protease is a general degradative protease possessed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa .
P. aeruginosa also releases at least two phospholipases C, one a hemolysin and one not, which lyse cells by cleaving phospholipids in membranes. The hemolytic phospholipase C is responsible for beta-hemolysis observed on blood agar. The organism also releases leukocidin which is lethal for white blood cells but nonhemolytic. Pigments Ninety percent of pseudomonads form pigments. This is commonly used as a diagnostic feature and the pigments of Pseudomonas aeruginosa also play a key role in the organism's virulence.