Rationale for the development of immunotherapy regimens against enterococcal infections

Vaccine. 2004 Dec 6:22 Suppl 1:S31-8. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2004.08.014.

Abstract

Enterococci are the third most common pathogen isolated in bloodstream infections. Increasing resistance against multiple antimicrobial agents has left few treatment options for enterococcal infections, and alternative therapeutic approaches are needed. Although a variety of virulence factors have been described for Enterococcus faecalis, only aggregation substance (AS) and a teichoic acid-like capsular polysaccharide have been evaluated for their potential for vaccine development. Antibodies raised against purified capsular polysaccharide are highly opsonic and protect mice against bacteremia after active and passive immunization. Since E. faecalis expresses only a limited number of capsular serotypes, this antigen may be an attractive candidate for development of a conjugate vaccine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Bacteremia / drug therapy
  • Bacteremia / microbiology
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology
  • Bacterial Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Bacterial Vaccines / immunology
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Cross Infection / physiopathology
  • Cross Infection / prevention & control
  • Enterococcus / immunology*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / immunology
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / physiopathology
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / immunology
  • Vaccines, Conjugate / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial
  • Vaccines, Conjugate
  • aggregation substance, Enterococcus faecalis