Vaccination with Acinetobacter baumannii adhesin Abp2D provides protection against catheter-associated urinary tract infection
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) contribute greatly to the burden of healthcare associated infections. Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative bacterium with high levels of antibiotic resistance that is of increasing concern as a CAUTI pathogen. A. baumannii expresses fibrinogen-binding adhesins (Abp1D and Abp2D) that mediate colonization and biofilm formation on catheters, which become coated with fibrinogen upon insertion. We developed a protein subunit vaccine against Abp1DRBD and Abp2DRBD and showed that vaccination significantly reduced bladder bacterial titers in a mouse model of CAUTI. We then determined that immunity to Abp2DRBD alone was sufficient for protection. Mechanistically, we defined the B cell response to Abp2DRBD vaccination and demonstrated that immunity was transferrable to naïve mice through passive immunization with Abp2DRBD-immune sera. This work represents a novel strategy in the prevention of A. baumannii CAUTI and has an important role to play in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance.
Source: Nature Communications
Institution: Washington University in St. Louis
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
Awards: G1142985407, G1763242437, Molecular and Epidemiologic Basis of UTI in Women, G2004813124, PATHOGENIC FIBER FORMATION IN BACTERIA: STRUCTURAL BASIS, Innovative Strategies to Combat Antibiotic-resistant Infections, G4380597083, G6354644881, G6726950466, G7185944904, G7386645447, Pathogenic Fiber Formation in Bacteria: Structural Basis, Impact of Foreign Bodies on Infection Susceptibility, Disease and Mucosal Remodeling of the Urinary Tract, Novel therapeutics for treatment of catheter-associated UTI and depletion of the vaginal reservoir
OpenAlex ID: W4413093904