Anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa IgY antibodies augment bacterial clearance in a murine pneumonia model

Background: Oral prophylactic therapy by gargling with pathogen-specific egg yolk immunoglobulins (IgY) may reduce the initial airway colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. IgY antibodies impart passive immunization and we investigated the effects of anti-P. aeruginosa IgY antibodies on bacterial eradication in a murine pneumonia model. Methods: P. aeruginosa pneumonia was established in Balb/c mice and the effects of prophylactic IgY administration on lung bacteriology, clinical parameters and subsequent inflammation were compared to controls. Results: Prophylactic administration of IgY antibodies targeting P. aeruginosa significantly reduced the bacterial burden by 2-log 24 h post infection compared to controls and was accompanied by significantly reduced clinical symptom scores and successive inflammatory cytokine profile indicative of diminished lung inflammation. Conclusions: Passive immunization by anti-P. aeruginosa IgY therapy facilitates promptly bacterial clearance and moderates inflammation in P. aeruginosa lung infection and may serve as an adjunct to antibiotics in reducing early colonization. (C) 2015 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.