Publication
Title
The search for novel treatment strategies for Streptococcus pneumoniae infections
Author
Abstract
This review provides an overview of the most important novel treatment strategies against Streptococcus pneumoniae infections published over the past 10 years. The pneumococcus causes the majority of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia cases, and it is one of the prime pathogens in bacterial meningitis. Over the last 10 years, extensive research has been conducted to prevent severe pneumococcal infections, with a major focus on (i) boosting the host immune system and (ii) discovering novel antibacterials. Boosting the immune system can be done in two ways, either by actively modulating host immunity, mostly through administration of selective antibodies, or by interfering with pneumococcal virulence factors, thereby supporting the host immune system to effectively overcome an infection. While several of such experimental therapies are promising, few have evolved to clinical trials. The discovery of novel antibacterials is hampered by the high research and development costs versus the relatively low revenues for the pharmaceutical industry. Nevertheless, novel enzymatic assays and target-based drug design, allow the identification of targets and the development of novel molecules to effectively treat this life-threatening pathogen.
Language
English
Source (journal)
FEMS microbiology: reviews / Federation of European Microbiological Societies. - Amsterdam
Publication
Amsterdam : 2021
ISSN
0168-6445 [print]
1574-6976 [online]
DOI
10.1093/FEMSRE/FUAA072
Volume/pages
45 :4 (2021) , 23 p.
Article Reference
fuaa072
ISI
000692528300011
Pubmed ID
33399826
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 01.06.2021
Last edited 02.01.2025
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