Current progress of adhesins as vaccine candidates for Moraxella catarrhalis

Moraxella catarrhalis is an emerging pathogen and all isolates are now considered beta-lactamase producing. Potential further use of vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae means that M. catarrhalis might be thrust further into the limelight. However, a vaccine has not yet been designed. In this review, the progress of M. catarrhalis adhesins as vaccine candidates is discussed with a focus on various candidate antigens that spanned those discovered more than 10 years ago, for example, the ubiquitous surface proteins to newer antigens, such as the Moraxella IgD-binding hemagglutinin.