With our company's profound expertise in Acinetobacter infection research, we are well-equipped to offer tailored solutions and comprehensive support to facilitate your research process from Acinetobacter infection therapy development to therapy commercialization.
Introduction to Acinetobacter Infection
Acinetobacter infections pose significant challenges in infectious diseases, particularly in hospitals. Acinetobacter species are widespread gram-negative bacteria that can endure extended periods on dry surfaces. Acinetobacter baumannii is the predominant species, responsible for around 80% of infections. Common manifestations of Acinetobacter infection include respiratory tract, wound, urinary tract infections, etc.
Fig. 1 The process of Acinetobacter baumannii infection in respiratory diseases. (Yao Y, et al., 2023)
Pathogenesis of Acinetobacter Infection
The pathogenesis of Acinetobacter infection involves a complex interplay of various factors that contribute to the colonization, persistence, and virulence of the bacteria.
Colonization
Acinetobacter species have the ability to colonize the skin of healthcare workers and patients, providing a reservoir for transmission. The ability of Acinetobacter to adhere to surfaces and form biofilms further contributes to its persistence in healthcare settings.
Virulence Factors
Acinetobacter species possess various virulence factors that enhance their ability to cause infections and evade host immune responses. These factors include capsular polysaccharides, outer membrane proteins (such as OmpA and CarO), iron acquisition mechanisms, and efflux pumps.
Immune Evasion
Acinetobacter has developed strategies to evade host immune responses, allowing it to establish and persist in infected individuals. The bacteria can modulate host immune signaling pathways, interfere with cytokine production, and inhibit phagocytosis and killing by immune cells1.
Vaccine Development for Acinetobacter Infection
The intricate outer membrane of Acinetobacter, along with its capacity to develop antibiotic resistance, poses great challenges in the pursuit of developing vaccines against the bacterium. While there are presently no vaccines available in the market, substantial advancements have been achieved in preclinical and initial stage research.
Targeting Surface Proteins
Researchers have identified several surface proteins, such as OmpA, OmpW, and CarO, that play essential roles in the pathogenesis of Acinetobacter infections. By using these proteins as vaccine antigens, studies have demonstrated promising results in preclinical models.
Outer Membrane Vesicles (OMVs)
OMVs derived from Acinetobacter have shown potential as vaccine candidates due to their ability to elicit a broad immune response. Preclinical studies using OMVs derived from Acinetobacter have demonstrated protection against infection and reduced bacterial dissemination.
Therapy Development of Acinetobacter Infection
Acinetobacter infections pose a significant challenge in healthcare settings due to their increasing prevalence and multidrug resistance. To combat this threat, researchers are actively involved in the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting various aspects of Acinetobacter infection. Promising Acinetobacter infection pipeline therapies in various stages of development include:
| Therapies |
Drug Types |
Mechanism of Action |
Research Phase |
| Plazomicin |
Aminoglycoside antibiotic |
Inhibit bacterial protein synthesis |
Phase III clinical trials |
| Cefiderocol |
Siderophore cephalosporin antibiotic |
Inhibit cell wall synthesis |
Phase III clinical trials |
| Eravacycline |
Fluorocycline antibiotic |
Inhibit bacterial protein synthesis |
Phase III clinical trials |
| Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) |
Peptides |
Disrupt bacterial cell membranes, inhibit protein or nucleic acid synthesis |
Preclinical research |
Our Services
With years of extensive involvement in infectious disease research, our company boasts a highly skilled team and vast expertise. We harness state-of-the-art technology to drive the development of innovative diagnostic kits, enabling early detection of Acinetobacter infection. By establishing animal models and conducting in-depth investigations into Acinetobacter infection pathogenesis and targets, we advance therapeutic drug development.
Therapeutic Development Services
By Molecule Types
Vaccine Development Services
To effectively prevent Acinetobacter infection, our company provides vaccine development services targeting Acinetobacter. We understand the challenges posed by the complex outer membrane and antibiotic resistance of Acinetobacter, and we utilize cutting-edge technologies and innovative approaches to overcome these obstacles. We possess the capability to develop a wide range of vaccine types, including but not limited to:
Animal Models Development of Acinetobacter Infection
Our company specializes in developing animal models for Acinetobacter Infection using various species, including mice, rats, galleria mellonella, non-human primates, etc.
Pathogen Infection Models
Our scientists induce Acinetobacter infections in animals through various routes, including intranasal, intraperitoneal, or intravenous administration of the bacteria. The severity and dissemination of the infection can be controlled by adjusting the bacterial inoculum and the immunological status of the animal.
Genetically Engineering Models
The genetic engineering models we can develop encompass transgenic models, conditional knockout models, overexpression models, etc. By introducing genetic modifications, we can gain insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying infection, host-pathogen interactions, and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
Humanized Models
Humanized models have been used to investigate the effectiveness of potential therapeutics, including antibiotics or immune-based interventions, against Acinetobacter infections. These models provide a more accurate representation of human immune responses and allow for the evaluation of therapeutic strategies in a preclinical setting.
With complete animal species resources, we can meet your diversified preclinical research needs, including drug safety evaluation, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic analysis. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us for more details and quotation information of related services.
References
- Yao Y, Chen Q, Zhou H. Virulence Factors and Pathogenicity Mechanisms of Acinetobacter baumannii in Respiratory Infectious Diseases[J]. Antibiotics, 2023, 12(12): 1749.
- Almasaudi S B. Acinetobacter spp. as nosocomial pathogens: Epidemiology and resistance features[J]. Saudi journal of biological sciences, 2018, 25(3): 586-596.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
