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Vaccination with Acinetobacter baumannii adhesin Abp2D provides protection against catheter-associated urinary tract infection

Author

Listed:
  • Morgan R. Timm

    (Washington University School of Medicine)

  • Kevin O. Tamadonfar

    (Washington University School of Medicine)

  • Taylor M. Nye

    (Washington University School of Medicine)

  • Jesús Bazán Villicaña

    (Washington University School of Medicine)

  • Jerome S. Pinkner

    (Washington University School of Medicine)

  • Karen W. Dodson

    (Washington University School of Medicine)

  • Ali H. Ellebedy

    (Washington University School of Medicine)

  • Scott J. Hultgren

    (Washington University School of Medicine)

Abstract

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) contribute greatly to the burden of healthcare-associated infections. Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative bacterium with high levels of antibiotic resistance that is of increasing concern as a CAUTI pathogen. A. baumannii expresses fibrinogen-binding adhesins (Abp1D and Abp2D) that mediate biofilm formation on catheters, which become coated with fibrinogen upon insertion. Here we develop a protein subunit vaccine against the Abp1D and Abp2D receptor binding domains (RBD) and show that vaccination significantly reduces bacterial titers in a female mouse model of CAUTI. We further demonstrate that immunity to Abp2DRBD alone is sufficient for protection. Mechanistically, we define the B cell response to Abp2DRBD vaccination, demonstrate that passive immunization with Abp2DRBD-immune serum transfers immunity to naïve mice, and show that Abp2DRBD-immune serum inhibits bacterial binding to fibrinogen-coated catheters. This work represents an antibiotic-sparing strategy for the prevention of A. baumannii CAUTI which has an important role in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance.

Suggested Citation

  • Morgan R. Timm & Kevin O. Tamadonfar & Taylor M. Nye & Jesús Bazán Villicaña & Jerome S. Pinkner & Karen W. Dodson & Ali H. Ellebedy & Scott J. Hultgren, 2025. "Vaccination with Acinetobacter baumannii adhesin Abp2D provides protection against catheter-associated urinary tract infection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62402-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62402-9
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