Immunization and Immunotherapy Approaches against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia Complex Infections

Abstract

Human infections caused by the opportunist pathogens Burkholderia cepacia complex and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are of particular concern due to their severity, their multiple antibiotic resistance, and the limited eradication efficiency of the current available treatments. New therapeutic options have been pursued, being vaccination strategies to prevent or limit these infections as a rational approach to tackle these infections. In this review, immunization and immunotherapy approaches currently available and under study against these bacterial pathogens is reviewed. Ongoing active and passive immunization clinical trials against P. aeruginosa infections is also reviewed. Novel identified bacterial targets and their possible exploitation for the development of immunization and immunotherapy strategies against P. aeruginosa and B. cepacia complex and infections are also presented and discussed.

In Vivo Activity of Metal Complexes Containing 1,10-Phenanthroline and 3,6,9-Trioxaundecanedioate Ligands against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection in Galleria mellonella Larvae

“…This highlights the clear necessity to investigate novel drugs with unique modes of action that can overcome these resistant pathways. Consequently, research into many non-antibiotic therapeutic approaches have been investigated including phage therapy [ 8 ], immunotherapy [ 9 ], and antimicrobial peptides [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. In addition, inorganic complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) ligands have had a resurgence as possible alternatives or additives to established antimicrobial therapeutics [ 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”

Double Auxotrophy to Improve the Safety of a Live Anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa Vaccine

“…To tackle this problem, vaccines could be used as an alternative to antibiotics. However, despite many efforts and some advances in pre-clinical studies, to date, there is no P. aeruginosa vaccine available for clinical use [ 3 , 4 ]. A successful vaccine against P. aeruginosa should elicit a combination of protective antibodies and a mixed Th1/Th2 or Th1/Th17 response [ 3 , 5 ].…”

A Polyclonal Antibody Raised against the Burkholderia cenocepacia OmpA-like Protein BCAL2645 Impairs the Bacterium Adhesion and Invasion of Human Epithelial Cells In Vitro

“…The most common strategies rely on in vitro susceptibility testing followed by a combination of two antibiotics, although these rarely result in the eradication of the pathogen. This lack of effective therapies and the increasing resistance to antimicrobials in CF pathogens [ 19 ] highlights the need for new strategies to eradicate Bcc infections [ 20 ]. Immunotherapies are therefore regarded has having the best chances of long-term success in the protection against Bcc infections [ 20 , 21 ].…”

“…This lack of effective therapies and the increasing resistance to antimicrobials in CF pathogens [ 19 ] highlights the need for new strategies to eradicate Bcc infections [ 20 ]. Immunotherapies are therefore regarded has having the best chances of long-term success in the protection against Bcc infections [ 20 , 21 ]. The discovery of possible new targets for the development of immunoprotective strategies against Bcc prompted us to uncover surface exposed proteins from the highly transmissible epidemic Bcc strain B. cenocepacia J2315 [ 22 ].…”