Vaccine Development
Alpha-toxin is also one of the key virulence factors in S. aureus pneumonia. The level of alpha-toxin expressed by a particular strain of S. aureus directly correlates with the virulence of the strain. Recent research has shown that immunization with a mutant form of alpha-toxin that is no longer able to form pores protects against S. aureus pneumonia in mice. Also, introduction of alpha-toxin specific antibodies into an unimmunized animal protects against subsequent infection. Cultures of human lung epithelial cells incubated with anti-alpha-toxin and infected with S. aureus showed marked reductions in cellular damage when compared to control cells. As many strains of S. aureus are proving to be resistant to most available antibiotics, specific targeting of virulence factors with antibodies may be the next step to treating this pathogen.
Read more about this topic: Staphylococcus Aureus Alpha Toxin
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