Recognizing the gravity of the enterococcal infection challenge, our team of seasoned vaccine researchers has been at the forefront of developing innovative solutions. In addition, our team has also been exploring innovative therapeutic strategies to combat the rising threat of enterococcal infections, particularly those caused by antibiotic-resistant strains.
Introduction to Enterococcus Infection
Enterococci are Gram-positive, opportunistic pathogens that have emerged as a significant threat. These resilient bacteria can colonize the gastrointestinal tract and, under certain conditions, breach the mucosal barrier to cause a range of serious infections, including endocarditis, bacteremia, and urinary tract infections.
The rise of antibiotic-resistant strains, such as vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), has made these infections increasingly difficult to treat using conventional antimicrobial therapies. This underscores the critical need for the development of alternative strategies, including effective vaccines and novel therapeutic approaches.
Fig. 1 Opsonophagocytic killing activity of anti glycoconjugate rabbit sera against prototype enterococcal strains. (Romero-Saavedra F., et al., 2019)
Vaccine Development for Enterococcus Infection
Polysaccharide Antigens
- Lipoteichoic acid (LTA): The conserved polyglycerolphosphate backbone of LTA has shown promise as a broadly protective antigen, capable of eliciting opsonic antibodies that can mediate killing of both Enterococcus and other Gram-positive pathogens.
- Enterococcal polysaccharide antigen (Epa): This rhamnan-based polysaccharide plays a critical role in biofilm formation and virulence, making it a compelling vaccine candidate.
- Diheteroglycan (DHG): The capsular polysaccharide of encapsulated Enterococcus faecalis strains, DHG has demonstrated the ability to induce protective antibodies against these clinically relevant serotypes.
Protein Antigens
- SagA: An essential secreted protein that binds to extracellular matrix components, inducing opsonic antibodies.
- Gelatinase (GelE): A secreted virulence factor that has been recently proposed as a vaccine candidate.
- Microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs): Such as the collagen adhesin Ace, which may protect against infective endocarditis.
- Pilus proteins: Involved in biofilm formation, these surface structures are being investigated as potential vaccine targets.
Therapeutics Development for Enterococcus Infection
One such strategy involves the use of two-beta-lactam combinations, such as ampicillin and ceftriaxone, which have demonstrated equal effectiveness to the standard regimen, with the added benefit of reduced nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity associated with prolonged aminoglycoside use.
In addition to optimizing antibiotic regimens, researchers have been exploring a variety of innovative therapeutic strategies to combat enterococcal infections, such as commensal probiotic cocktails, antiadhesive and antimicrobial coatings, antibody-based therapies, and phage-derived therapies. Please click on the link below to learn more about our one-stop therapy development solutions.
Our Services
At our company, we are proud to offer a comprehensive suite of services to support the development of effective vaccines and therapies against enterococcal infections. Our cross-functional team of experts, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge technologies, is dedicated to providing our clients with the highest level of scientific expertise and project management support.
Infectious Disease Models
- Peritonitis, Bloodstream and systemic Infection Models
- Gastrointestinal Infection Models
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Models
- Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) Models
- Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Models
- Endodontic Infection Models
By partnering with our company, you can access our world-class expertise and cutting-edge capabilities to accelerate the development of innovative solutions that can make a real difference in the fight against the growing threat of enterococcal infections. If our services have piqued your interest, we warmly welcome you to reach out to us for further information and to obtain a detailed quotation for the services you require.
References
- Romero-Saavedra Felipe, et al. "Conjugation of different immunogenic enterococcal vaccine target antigens leads to extended strain coverage." The Journal of infectious diseases 220.10 (2019): 1589-1598.
- Kalfopoulou Ermioni, and Johannes Huebner. "Advances and prospects in vaccine development against enterococci." Cells 9.11 (2020): 2397.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
