Human antibodies as emerging drugs for antimicrobial resistance

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Immunology
• Drug Development

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health threat, causing millions of deaths annually and projected to worsen significantly by 2050.
• Existing antibiotics are becoming ineffective against a growing number of bacterial pathogens.
• Low- and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by AMR.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) as a novel class of antimicrobials.
• To evaluate the potential of mAbs to overcome classical antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.
• To discuss the advantages, limitations, and future directions for mAb-based antimicrobial strategies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on monoclonal antibodies for antimicrobial applications.
• Analysis of existing data on mAb efficacy, resistance potential, and clinical utility.
• Exploration of diagnostic and economic factors influencing mAb implementation.

Main Results:

• Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can bypass common antimicrobial resistance (AMR) mechanisms, offering prophylactic and therapeutic benefits.
• mAbs present unique advantages but also limitations that require careful consideration.
• Rapid diagnostics are crucial for personalized mAb therapy to optimize outcomes and minimize resistance risks.

Conclusions:

• Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) represent a promising novel therapeutic and prophylactic approach to combatting antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• Addressing challenges in production cost, global access, and equity is essential for widespread implementation.
• Strategies to mitigate the risk of selecting resistant strains are critical for the sustainable use of mAbs.