NC West Virginia News

West Virginia University researchers are investigating a promising antibody that could help combat drug-resistant bacteria. The focus of their study is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium responsible for various diseases, including sepsis and pneumonia. "This pathogen is becoming extremely highly resistant to antibiotics," stated Mariette Barbier, associate professor and chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology at WVU's School of Medicine.

The research team is exploring whether antibodies produced by the immune system can be harnessed as drugs to treat infections instead of traditional vaccines. Barbier explained, "Our immune system makes really good antibodies that will clear the pathogen." A significant discovery was made when researchers found an antibody from mice that kills bacteria independently. "It actually kills the bacteria itself," said Barbier.

The identified antibody, named WVDC-0496 (West Virginia Vaccine Development Center), showed potential in laboratory tests. The team plans to evaluate its effectiveness as a therapeutic agent over a five-year period with support from a $3.5 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Collaborating on this project are Heath Damron, Emel Sen Kilic, Spencer Dublin, and additional students who will join the study. Previous work by Damron during his doctoral studies laid the groundwork for this research by simulating how Pseudomonas aeruginosa grows in cystic fibrosis patients' lungs.

Barbier highlighted that while they know WVDC-0496 can prevent sepsis or pneumonia in mice, its compatibility with antibiotics remains uncertain: "What we don’t know is whether it could be used in combination with antibiotics or whether it would work against those strains that are extremely resistant to antibiotics."

Dublin has observed synergy between the antibody and certain antibiotics at lower concentrations: "We actually have observed synergy between our antibody and select antibiotics." Additionally, Barbier plans to collaborate with researchers from the University of Texas to test if WVDC-0496 can penetrate biofilms formed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The goal is not only to understand how WVDC-0496 functions but also to pave the way for developing similar antibodies against other multidrug-resistant organisms.