Anti-infective antibodies: a novel tool to prevent and treat nosocomial diseases

Abstract

The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria is a growing challenge for healthcare in the treatment of infectious diseases. In particular, nosocomial infections are getting out of control and reduce the likelihood to recover without, sometimes lethal, complications and long-term damage. Current antibiotics are unable to keep nosocomial infections in check and novel ones move only reluctantly forward and are expected to only delay the problem of multidrug resistance. Progress made in the identification of suitable pathogen targets, a better understanding of host–parasite interactions and the recent inclusion of monoclonal antibodies into the arsenal of novel therapies has provoked the interest to revitalize a historical concept of medicine to treat and prevent bacterial infections with antibodies.

Keywords::

• anti-infective monoclonal antibodies
• nosocomial infection

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Conflicts of interest may arise from the fact that Alexander von Gabain, Eszter Nagy and Carmen Giefing are employed by Intercell AG, the company developing vaccine and anti-infective antibodies against bacterial and fungal infections. Thus, they have an interest to make the company successful. In their role for the company, employees are bound to governance in communicating research results of the Company to the public that are compliant with the legal rules in Europe and in the USA. All three authors are holding shares and options in the Company that is publicly listed at the Austrian Stock Exchange since 2005. The authors have 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.