Fighting Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms with Monoclonal Antibodies.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a notorious pathogen and one of the most frequent causes of biofilm-related infections. The treatment of S. aureus biofilms is hampered by the ability of the biofilm structure to shield bacteria from antibiotics as well as the host's immune system. Therefore, new preventive and/or therapeutic interventions, including the use of antibody-based approaches, are urgently required. In this review, we describe the mechanisms by which anti-S. aureus antibodies can help in combating biofilms, including an up-to-date overview of monoclonal antibodies currently in clinical trials. Moreover, we highlight ongoing efforts in passive vaccination against S. aureus biofilm infections, with special emphasis on promising targets, and finally indicate the direction into which future research could be heading.