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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
Passive Administration of Monoclonal Antibodies Against H. capsulatum and Others Fungal Pathogens
Published on: February 14, 2011
Specific antibody can prevent fungal biofilm formation and this effect correlates with protective efficacy
Luis R Martinez1, Arturo Casadevall
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
Abstract:
One of the most troublesome medical problems today is infection of prosthetic devices with organisms that form polysaccharide biofilms. This combined with increasing antimicrobial drug resistance is making many infectious diseases incurable. Cryptococcus neoformans is a human-pathogenic fungus that has a polysaccharide capsule and can form biofilms in prosthetic medical devices. We developed a system to study cryptococcal biofilm formation in vitro and studied the effect of antibody to the C. neoformans capsular polysaccharide on this process. C. neoformans biofilm formation was dependent on the presence of a polysaccharide capsule and correlated with the ability of capsular polysaccharide to bind the polystyrene solid support. Protective antibodies prevented biofilm formation whereas nonprotective antibodies were not effective. The mechanism of antibody action involved interference with capsular polysaccharide release from the fungal cell. In contrast, lactoferrin, an effector molecule of innate immune mechanisms, was unable to prevent fungal biofilm formation despite its efficacy against bacterial biofilms. Our results suggest a new role of adaptive humoral immunity whereby some antibodies can inhibit biofilm formation by encapsulated organisms. Vaccines that elicit antibody responses to capsular antigens and/or passive transfer of antibodies to microbial polysaccharides may be useful in preventing biofilm formation.
Insights
Antibodies targeting the polysaccharide capsule of Cryptococcus neoformans can prevent fungal biofilm formation on medical devices. This discovery offers new strategies for combating drug-resistant infections.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Polysaccharide biofilms on prosthetic devices are a major cause of untreatable infections.
- Increasing antimicrobial resistance exacerbates the challenge of managing these infections.
- Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungus with a polysaccharide capsule, forms biofilms on medical devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the polysaccharide capsule in Cryptococcus neoformans biofilm formation.
- To determine the effect of antibodies against the capsular polysaccharide on biofilm development.
- To explore the potential of adaptive humoral immunity in preventing fungal biofilms.
Main Methods:
- Developed an in vitro system to study Cryptococcus neoformans biofilm formation.
- Assessed the impact of specific antibodies targeting the capsular polysaccharide.
- Evaluated the efficacy of lactoferrin against fungal biofilms.
Main Results:
- Biofilm formation was dependent on the presence and binding ability of the polysaccharide capsule.
- Protective antibodies inhibited biofilm formation by interfering with capsular polysaccharide release.
- Non-protective antibodies were ineffective, and lactoferrin did not prevent fungal biofilm formation.
Conclusions:
- Adaptive humoral immunity, specifically certain antibodies, can inhibit biofilm formation by encapsulated fungi.
- Antibodies targeting microbial polysaccharides represent a potential strategy for preventing prosthetic device infections.
- Vaccines or passive antibody transfer could be developed to combat Cryptococcus neoformans biofilms.
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