Therapy with anti-flagellin A monoclonal antibody limits Pseudomonas aeruginosa invasiveness in a mouse burn wound sepsis model

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an anti-flagellin sub-type monoclonal antibody (anti-fla-a) on Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in a mouse burn model and to assay bacterial dissemination and invasiveness. Methods: After immediate post-burn infection with P. aeruginosa, mortality and morbidity (daily weight changes) were monitored in mice treated with anti-fla-a as compared to untreated mice. Bacterial dissemination and invasiveness were monitored by bacterial counts at the burn site and spleen. Three different timing regimens for anti-fla-a treatment were studied: (a) prophylaxis (pre-infection), (b) therapeutic (post-infection), and (c) combined mode. Results: Combined regimen of anti-fla-a markedly improved survival of mice infected with P. aeruginosa from 6% to 96% (p < 0.0001), similar to treatment with Imipenem. Furthermore, a significant improvement in survival was obtained when anti-fla-a was given prior to (75% survival) or post-infection (50% survival). It reduced bacterial load in the spleen (p = 0.01), preventing bacterial sepsis. Conclusion: Anti-fla-a is effective in reducing mortality and morbidity in murine P. aeruginosa-infected burn model.