Potential impact of a Moraxella catarrhalis vaccine in COPD

Abstract

Moraxella catarrhalis is the second most common cause of exacerbations in adults with COPD, resulting in enormous morbidity and mortality in this clinical setting. Vaccine development for M. catarrhalis has lagged behind the other two important causes of exacerbations in COPD, nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae. While no licensed vaccine is currently available for M. catarrhalis, several promising candidate vaccine antigens have been identified and characterized and are close to entering clinical trials. Key steps that are required to advance vaccines for M. catarrhalis along the translational pipeline include standardization of assay systems to assess candidate antigens, identification of a reliable correlate of protection and expansion of partnerships between industry, academia and government to overcome regulatory hurdles. A vaccine to prevent M. catarrhalis infections in COPD would have a major impact in reducing morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs in COPD.

Immunogenicity of trimeric autotransporter adhesins and their potential as vaccine targets

“…M. catarrhalis is a commensal coloniser of the nasopharynx and represents a causative agent of otitis media in (young) children. The role of M. catarrhalis as causative agent of COPD has long been underestimated, however, is a frequent pathogen in the acute exacerbation phase of the disease [141,165]. Other related illnesses are meningitis, sinusitis and pneumonia [18,162].…”

“…Currently, no licensed vaccines are available to prevent M. catarrhalis-associated diseases, but several candidate vaccines are being developed [165,168,169]. Potential M. catarrhalis vaccine antigens are adhesive proteins (e.g., OMP CD, Moraxella IgD-binding protein, UspA1 and UspA2), proteins involved in nutrient acquisition (e.g., oligopeptide permease protein A, transferrin-binding proteins, and OMP E), lipooligosaccharides, or other Moraxella surface proteins [18,170,171].…”

Challenges in Identifying Antibiotic Resistance Targets for Point-of-Care Diagnostics in General Practice

“…Additionally, if a POC diagnostic is implemented, which determines bacterial future science group www.futuremedicine.com identification only, the GP may already be empirically aware of the most likely antibiotic resistances associated with that particular bacterial pathogen. For example, the bacterium Moraxella catarrhalis is associated with upper respiratory tract infections such as otitis media in children and lower respiratory tract infections such as exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults [22][23][24]. This bacterial pathogen is associated with the carriage of a single unique β-lactamase enzyme, which can be present in one of two slightly different forms (Bro-1 and Bro-2) [25].…”

Complement evasion by the human respiratory tract pathogens Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis

“…In contrast to children, adults are less often colonized by H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis and, consequently, may be infected upon exposure, for example after contact with grandchildren carrying pathogens. In particular, patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are often infected with M. catarrhalis and/or H. influenzae, which are associated with exacerbations of COPD [3][4][5]. This review will focus upon how the Gram-negative bacteria H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis survive in the host by conquering the innate immunity by utilizing, interfering with or merely inhibiting the different components of the complement system.…”