Antibiotics (Nov 2024)

Potential Therapeutic Targets for Combination Antibody Therapy Against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Infections

  • Sharon Ke,
  • Hyein Kil,
  • Conner Roggy,
  • Ty Shields,
  • Zachary Quinn,
  • Alyssa P. Quinn,
  • James M. Small,
  • Francina D. Towne,
  • Amanda E. Brooks,
  • Benjamin D. Brooks

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13111046
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 11
p. 1046

Abstract

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Despite the significant advances in antibiotic treatments and therapeutics, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) remains a formidable pathogen, primarily due to its rapid acquisition of antibiotic resistance. Known for its array of virulence factors, including surface proteins that promote adhesion to host tissues, enzymes that break down host barriers, and toxins that contribute to immune evasion and tissue destruction, S. aureus poses a serious health threat. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) classify S. aureus as an ESKAPE pathogen, recognizing it as a critical threat to global health. The increasing prevalence of drug-resistant S. aureus underscores the need for new therapeutic strategies. This review discusses a promising approach that combines monoclonal antibodies targeting multiple S. aureus epitopes, offering synergistic efficacy in treating infections. Such strategies aim to reduce the capacity of the pathogen to develop resistance, presenting a potent adjunct or alternative to conventional antibiotic treatments.

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