title: Effectiveness of Alpha-toxin Fab Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Limiting the Pathology of Staphylococcus aureus Keratitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effectiveness of a high-affinity human monoclonal antibody Fab fragment to Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin (LTM14 Fab) as therapy for S. aureus keratitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single topical drop of the LTM14 Fab antibody to alpha-toxin alone, or in 0.006% benzalkonium chloride (BAK), was applied every 30 min to S. aureus-infected rabbit corneas from 9 to 14 hours post-infection. Erosions and pathology were measured at 15 h post-infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LTM14 Fab with BAK limited corneal erosions better than LTM14 Fab alone (p = 0.036), and both limited erosions compared to untreated eyes (p ≤ 0.0001). Overall pathology was similar in all groups (p ≥ 0.070), but iritis and chemosis were reduced by treatment (p ≤ 0.036).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high-affinity human monoclonal Fab fragment antibody (LTM14 Fab) to S. aureus alpha-toxin was effective in reducing corneal damage during S. aureus keratitis.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Microbiology , University of Mississippi Medical Center , Jackson , Mississippi , USA and.
authors.forename: Armando R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.affiliation: b Rinat Laboratories , Pfizer Inc. , San Francisco , California , USA.
authors.forename: Davide L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Foletti
authors.affiliation: a Department of Microbiology , University of Mississippi Medical Center , Jackson , Mississippi , USA and.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bierdeman
authors.affiliation: a Department of Microbiology , University of Mississippi Medical Center , Jackson , Mississippi , USA and.
authors.forename: Aihua
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Microbiology , University of Mississippi Medical Center , Jackson , Mississippi , USA and.
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Arana
authors.affiliation: b Rinat Laboratories , Pfizer Inc. , San Francisco , California , USA.
authors.forename: Adela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasa-Moreno
authors.affiliation: b Rinat Laboratories , Pfizer Inc. , San Francisco , California , USA.
authors.forename: Emma Ruth B
authors.initials: ERB
authors.lastname: Sangalang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Microbiology , University of Mississippi Medical Center , Jackson , Mississippi , USA and.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: O'Callaghan
keywords: Alpha-toxin; Fab antibody therapy; S. aureus keratitis; erosions