This study showed that recombinant properdin, which promotes activation of the complement pathway, could protect mice against infection with lethal-dose Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis. In vitro, properdin caused deposition of C3b fragments on bacterial cell surfaces — which is a key step in promoting a host immune response against bacteria — and boosted cell lysis. Importantly, the majority of mice given properdin did not develop sepsis. So properdin might be useful for combating infections caused by drug-resistant neisserial or streptococcal strains of bacteria.
References
Ali, Y. M. et al. Low-dose recombinant properdin provides substantial protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis infection. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 111, 5301–5306 (2014)
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Harrison, C. Complementing antibacterial strategies. Nat Rev Drug Discov 13, 418 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd4349
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd4349