We are pleased to announce the publication of a scientific article co-authored by several members of the BIMC team: Ludovic Richert, Patrice Rassam, and Yves Mély in Ebiomedecine:
“Directed-complement killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa protects against lethal pneumonia”
Background
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterium capable of causing serious infections, particularly in immunocompromised or hospitalized patients. Classified as a major threat by the WHO due to its growing resistance to antibiotics, it represents a major therapeutic challenge.
The CoMiX innovation
In this collaborative effort, researchers developed original therapeutic complexes called CoMiX (Complement-activating Multimeric immunotherapeutic compleXes).
These molecules combine an antibody fragment, which specifically targets the bacterium, with effectors capable of activating the complement system, a key branch of innate immunity.
The results show that:
- CoMiX effectively deposits immune proteins on the surface of P. aeruginosa,
- it leads to the direct destruction of bacteria and enhances their elimination by immune cells,
- when administered intranasally, it significantly improves survival in an experimental pneumonia model,
- it acts synergistically with certain existing antibiotics.
A step forward for future therapies
This proof of concept demonstrates that it is possible to leverage complement to develop new therapeutic strategies against multidrug-resistant bacteria. These approaches could represent a valuable alternative or complement to current treatments.
Congratulations to all the authors of this project!
