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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

Humanized Mouse Model to Study Bacterial Infections Targeting the Microvasculature
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Targeting pili in enterococcal pathogenesis.

Kenneth L Pinkston1, Kavindra V Singh, Peng Gao

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Passive protection using antibodies targeting Enterococcus faecalis pili (EbpC) can prevent infections. This anti-EbpC antibody also enabled imaging of bacterial infections, showing its diagnostic and therapeutic potential.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Hospital-acquired infections are a growing concern.
  • Pili are crucial for Gram-positive pathogen adherence and infection establishment.
  • Passive protection via antibodies is a promising infection prevention strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of a monoclonal antibody against Enterococcus faecalis pilin protein C (EbpC) for passive protection.
  • To investigate the antibody's potential for diagnosing bacterial infections.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a monoclonal antibody targeting EbpC, the major component of Enterococcus faecalis pili.
  • Assessed the antibody's ability to label pili, inhibit biofilm formation, and prevent infection in a rat endocarditis model.
  • Radiolabeled the antibody for imaging bacterial infections.

Main Results:

  • The anti-EbpC antibody successfully labeled polymerized pilus structures.
  • The antibody significantly reduced biofilm formation.
  • It effectively prevented Enterococcus faecalis-induced endocarditis in rats.
  • Radiolabeled antibody identified the site of bacterial infection.

Conclusions:

  • Monoclonal antibody targeting EbpC is effective for passive protection against Enterococcus faecalis infections.
  • This antibody demonstrates potential as a diagnostic tool for identifying bacterial infection sites.
  • The findings support the development of anti-EbpC antibodies for both therapeutic and diagnostic applications.