An antibody that blocks the “programmed cell death” pathway may help the immune system fight off sepsis-related fungal infections, according to animal studies reported in SHOCK®: Injury, Inflammation, and Sepsis: Laboratory and Clinical Approaches, Official Journal of the Shock Society. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
The findings support recent clinical studies using the anti-PD-1 antibody to treat life-threatening, opportunistic infections with Aspergillus fungus in patients with immune system suppression due to sepsis. Led by Asada Leelahavanichkul, MD, PhD, and Patcharee Ritprajak, DDS, PhD, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, the researchers write, “Adjunctive anti-PD-1 therapy may become a promising strategy for advanced immunotherapy against lethal fungal infection.”
