Abstract

Abstract Background Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) are among the major healthcare-associated infections and have high mortality especially in immunocompromised patients. Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) are classified as “critical organism” by CDC. Therefore, new anti-infective therapies are critically needed. Our studies showed that passive immunization using antibodies against Candida Hyr1 peptide#5 are protective in AB pneumonia mouse model and this was attributed to the structure homology between Candida Hyr1 and AB Filamentous hemagglutinin protein B (FhaB). In this study, we identified FhaB epitopes that shared sequence homology with Candida Hyr1 peptide#5. We aim to evaluate antibody-based therapy targeting these epitopes against AB and PA infection. Designing and evaluating FhaB peptides that share sequence similarity to Hyr1#5 In vivo protection of FhaB antibodies in mouse model on different MDR GNB A) AB B)PA Methods Sequence homology was done using BLAST online tool. FhaB peptides and their polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) were commercially produced. Indirect ELISA was done to test recognition FhaB peptides to Hyr1#5 Abs. Binding ability of FhaB pAbs was tested against AB and PA using flow cytometry. The efficacy of pAbs in protecting against AB- or PA-induced pneumonia was studied in immunosuppressed CD1 mice by administering 30 µg of pAbs (i.p.) on Day +1 relative to infection. Survival of mice served as an endpoint. Results We identified seven FhaB peptides that shared ∼50% sequence homology with Hyr1#5. These peptides are conserved among many GNB including AB and PA. Two peptides (FhaB#4 & FhaB#5) showed strong binding to Hyr1 Abs in ELISA. The pAbs generated against these two peptides showed ∼90% and 50% binding to AB and PA, respectively. Finally, pAbs targeting FhaB#4 protected mice from lethal dose of both AB and PA with 70% and 40% survival efficacies, respectively (p< 0.05). Conclusion We used FhaB to generate protective pAb against MDR AB and PA. Our results warrant the further development of these Ab as novel immunotherapeutics against MDR GNB. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

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