Our immune systems generate antibodies that neutralize and help eliminate foreign pathogens. These antibodies or proteins are generated by specific immune cells, which then recognize and bind to viruses, bacteria, or fungi. The role of antibody production is critical in the immune response against infection. Scientists have taken advantage of this system with vaccine technology. For example, when individuals get flu vaccinations, their bodies produce antibodies against the specific flu variant they were immunized against. Physicians and scientists are still studying antibody biology, and many treatments include industrial generation of monoclonal antibodies that are engineered to target specific infections and diseases.
A critical concern for many pharmaceutical companies, as well as healthcare providers, is the gradual antimicrobial resistance of many microorganisms. More specifically, the development of a “superbug” that is resistant to treatment. Antimicrobial resistance is a major concern within the healthcare field. The constant mutation and evolution of microorganisms overcome therapeutic treatment. As this progression continues, scientists are concerned that eventually there will not be a treatment strong enough to sufficiently eliminate strains of infection. The concept of antimicrobial resistance is why physicians recommend updating vaccinations and staying current with booster immunizations. Scientists are still working on how to overcome antimicrobial resistance, and some think monoclonal antibodies might provide an answer.
A recent article in Nature Communications, by Dr. Stephen Reece and others, demonstrate how a monoclonal antibody can prevent a common hospital-acquired infection from a bacterium known as Acinetobacter baumannii. Reece is the Head of Infectious Diseases and Vaccines at Sanofi, a pharmaceutical company in Cambridge, England. His work focuses on antimicrobial resistance and the development of stronger therapeutics that overcome hard-to-treat infections.
A. baumannii bacterium can develop in the lung and cause life-threatening illness. It is usually spread through contact with immunocompromised individuals as well as newborn babies with an increased risk of infection. This specific bacterium has evolved to resist many antimicrobial drugs and is becoming more dangerous for hospital patients. Reece and others have developed monoclonal antibodies to overcome this bacterium. The team used genetically engineered mice to generate monoclonal antibodies for humans. Consequently, they found that these cells were able to prevent A. baumannii infection in clinical samples. Commonly, monoclonal antibodies are generated from patients that have recovered from an infection or are designed to target a specific illness. In this study, researchers exposed the genetically modified mice to the outer membrane of A. baumannii to trigger an immune response. The team then took the different antibodies that were produced and selected the most effective one against the disease. Through this method, they discovered that the monoclonal antibody, mAb1416, produced the optimal response against the bacterium.
Reece and others tested the mAb1416 by treating mice with this antibody and then exposing them with A. baumannii from a patient. They discovered that the treated mice had significantly less infection compared to the other mice that were not treated with the antibody. They repeated this experiment with older A. baumannii to demonstrate the antibody’s effect on mutated bacterium. Interestingly, the group saw similar effects. More work is needed to confirm findings and translate this treatment to the clinic, but it provides hope that scientists are developing successful drugs against antimicrobial resistance.