Staphylococcus aureus antigens and challenges in vaccine development

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is an important cause of nosocomial and community-acquired infections in humans and animals, as well as mastitis in dairy cattle. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus is increasingly recognized as a cause of staphylococcal infection and, therefore, immunotherapeutics have received new interest in both human and veterinary medicine. Vaccines aimed at preventing S. aureus infection in humans and mastitis in dairy cattle have been studied for many years. While some formulations have shown promise in ameliorating clinical disease, few, if any, of the S. aureus vaccines developed have adequately prevented new infection. The antigens targeted by S. aureus vaccines and potential reasons for the lack of success of vaccination against S. aureus are reviewed in this article.

Keywords::

• antigen
• immunotherapy
• Staphylococcus aureus
• vaccine
• virulence factor

Financial & competing interests disclosure

JR Middleton has no research support from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. The studies described in the review, that is, data related to [17,18] were supported by: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc.; USDA Animal Health Formula Funds; University of Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station Funds; and Phi Zeta. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.