title: Identification and characterization of antigens as vaccine candidates against Klebsiella pneumoniae.
abstract: Nosocomial infections, also called "hospital acquired infections," occur worldwide and affect both developed and resource-poor countries, thus having a major impact on their health care systems. Klebsiella pneumoniae, which is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen, is responsible for causing pneumonia, urinary tract infections and septicemia in immune compromised hosts such as neonates. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine or mAb available for prophylactic or therapeutic use against K. pneumoniae infections. For this reason, we sought for a protein-based subunit vaccine capable of combating K. pneumoniae infections, by applying our ANTIGENome technology for the identification of potential vaccine candidates, focusing on conserved protein antigens present in strains with different serotypes. We identified numerous novel immunogenic proteins using genomic surface display libraries and human serum antibodies from donors exposed to or infected by K. pneumoniae. Vaccine candidate antigens were finally selected based on animal protection in a murine lethal-sepsis model. The protective and highly conserved antigens identified in this study are promising candidates for the development of a protein-based vaccine to prevent infection by K. pneumoniae.
authors.affiliation: Intercell AG, Campus Vienna Biocenter 3; Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Urban
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lundberg
authors.forename: Beatrice M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Senn
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schüler
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meinke
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit