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Updated: Jul 20, 2026
A Mouse Model to Assess Innate Immune Response to Staphylococcus aureus Infection
Published on: February 28, 2019
Vaccination With Detoxified Leukocidin AB Reduces Bacterial Load in a Staphylococcus aureus Minipig Deep Surgical
Jeffrey Fernandez1, Holly Sanders2, Jessica Henn1
1Bacterial Vaccines, Spring House, Pennsylvania,USA.
Abstract:
Vaccines against Staphylococcus aureus have eluded researchers for >3 decades while the burden of staphylococcal diseases has increased. Early vaccine attempts mainly used rodents to characterize preclinical efficacy, and all subsequently failed in human clinical efficacy trials. More recently, leukocidin AB (LukAB) has gained interest as a vaccine antigen. We developed a minipig deep surgical wound infection model offering 3 independent efficacy readouts: bacterial load at the superficial and at the deep-seated surgical site, and dissemination of bacteria. Due to similarities with humans, minipigs are an attractive option to study novel vaccine candidates. With this model, we characterized the efficacy of a LukAB toxoid as vaccine candidate. Compared to control animals, a 3-log reduction of bacteria at the deep-seated surgical site was observed in LukAB-treated minipigs and dissemination of bacteria was dramatically reduced. Therefore, LukAB toxoids may be a useful addition to S. aureus vaccines and warrant further study.
Insights
Developing a Staphylococcus aureus vaccine is challenging. A new study shows a leukocidin AB (LukAB) toxoid vaccine candidate significantly reduced bacterial load and spread in a minipig wound infection model.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Vaccinology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Staphylococcus aureus infections pose a significant public health burden.
- Developing effective vaccines against S. aureus has been challenging for over 30 years.
- Previous preclinical models using rodents did not accurately predict human clinical trial outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a leukocidin AB (LukAB) toxoid as a vaccine candidate against Staphylococcus aureus.
- To characterize a novel minipig deep surgical wound infection model for preclinical vaccine assessment.
Main Methods:
- A minipig deep surgical wound infection model was developed with three efficacy readouts: superficial bacterial load, deep-seated surgical site bacterial load, and bacterial dissemination.
- The efficacy of a LukAB toxoid vaccine candidate was tested in this minipig model.
- Results were compared between LukAB-treated minipigs and control animals.
Main Results:
- LukAB-treated minipigs showed a 3-log reduction in bacteria at the deep-seated surgical site compared to controls.
- Dissemination of Staphylococcus aureus was significantly reduced in the vaccinated group.
- The minipig model provided independent efficacy readouts for bacterial load and dissemination.
Conclusions:
- Leukocidin AB (LukAB) toxoids demonstrate potential as a valuable component for Staphylococcus aureus vaccines.
- The minipig deep surgical wound infection model is a suitable preclinical platform for evaluating novel S. aureus vaccine candidates.
- Further research into LukAB toxoids is warranted for the development of effective S. aureus vaccines.
