Efficacy of immune therapy in early experimental Naegleria fowleri meningitis.

Abstract

Naegleria fowleri meningoencephalitis is usually fatal in humans despite treatment. As a new approach, we tested intracisternal passive immune therapy in rabbits with amebic meningoencephalitis by using antinaegleria immune serum, an immunoglobulin G fraction, and a newly developed monoclonal antibody to N. fowleri. Both the immune serum and an immunoglobulin G fraction isolated from it by affinity chromatography provided a consistent, although temporary, protective effect, shown by prolongation of survival (P = 0.001). Multiple doses of immune serum further prolonged survival (P = 0.005). The protective effect of serum was retained after heating to 56 degrees C. We then developed a monoclonal antibody to N. fowleri which provided similar protection. Passive intracisternal antibody therapy might serve as an adjunctive component in the treatment of amebic meningoencephalitis.

• Authors: G J Lallinger, S L Reiner, D W Cooke, D L Toffaletti, J R Perfect, D L Granger, D T Durack
• Journal: Infection and immunity (Infect Immun) Vol. 55 Issue 5 Pg. 1289-93 (May 1987) ISSN: 0019-9567 [Print] United States
• PMID: 3570464 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Immunoglobulin G

Topics

• Amebiasis (therapy)
• Amoeba (immunology)
• Animals
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (therapeutic use)
• Immunization, Passive
• Immunoglobulin G (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Meningoencephalitis (therapy)
• Rabbits