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

Sílvia A Sousa,António M M Seixas,Jorge H Leitão,Joana M M Marques

doi:10.3390/vaccines9060670

Sílvia A Sousa, António M M Seixas + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9060670

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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.

Highlights

The major problem associated with chronic infections and high mortality is the emergence of drug-resistant strains, due to intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms [3]
Pooled sera collected after immunization had higher capacity to promote opsonophagocytotic killing (OPK) of P. aeruginosa
Either an effective P. aeruginosa, Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) or combination of both, vaccine has been pursued for several decades

Summary

Introduction

The major problem associated with chronic infections and high mortality is the emergence of drug-resistant strains, due to intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms [3]. One of the emerging strategies for combating these infections involves the use of vaccines or monoclonal antibodies for prevention of the acquisition of MDR P. aeruginosa infections by high-risk patients. The Bcc encompasses Burkholderia cepacia as the type species, as well as other species, including the two species responsible for most of the CF infections worldwide, Burkholderia cenocepacia and Burkholderia multivorans [10,11]. Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenicity and virulence of Bcc bacteria is critical for the development of new approaches for infection eradication in CF patients. To adhere and invade the lung epithelial cells, these bacteria use adhesins, flagella, pili and lipases, whereas the type IV secretion system contributes to intracellular survival and replication of B. cenocepacia [21]

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