Identification of novel vaccine candidates against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

• Published in: PloS one 2013-10, Vol.8 (10), p.e77631-e77631
• Main Authors: Moriel, Danilo G, Beatson, Scott A, Wurpel, Daniël J, Lipman, Jeffrey, Nimmo, Graeme R, Paterson, David L, Schembri, Mark A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acinetobacter; Acinetobacter baumannii; Acinetobacter baumannii - genetics; Acinetobacter baumannii - immunology; Acinetobacter Infections - immunology; Acinetobacter Infections - microbiology; Acinetobacter Infections - prevention & control; Analysis; Antibiotics; Antigens; Antigens, Bacterial - analysis; Antigens, Bacterial - immunology; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins - analysis; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins - immunology; Bacterial Vaccines - analysis; Bacterial Vaccines - immunology; Bioinformatics; Carbapenems; Cloning; Computer Simulation; Contamination; Cross infection; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Epidemiology; Genome, Bacterial; Genomes; Genomics; Health aspects; Health care; Hospitals; Humans; Identification; Immunization; Infectious diseases; Intensive care; Intensive care units; Localization; Microbial drug resistance; Multidrug resistance; Multidrug resistant organisms; Nosocomial infection; Nosocomial infections; Proteins; Proteomics; Vaccines
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077631

Acinetobacter baumannii is an emerging opportunistic bacterium associated with nosocomial infections in intensive care units. The alarming increase in infections caused by A. baumannii is strongly associated with enhanced resistance to antibiotics, in particular carbapenems. This, together with the lack of a licensed vaccine, has translated into significant economic, logistic and health impacts to health care facilities. In this study, we combined reverse vaccinology and proteomics to identify surface-exposed and secreted antigens from A. baumannii. Using in silico prediction tools and comparative genome analysis in combination with in vitro proteomic approaches, we identified 42 antigens that could be used as potential vaccine targets. Considering the paucity of effective antibiotics available to treat multidrug-resistant A. baumannii infections, these vaccine targets may serve as a framework for the development of a broadly protective multi-component vaccine, an outcome that would have a major impact on the burden of A. baumannii infections in intensive care units across the globe.