ABSTRACT
Immunotherapies are disease-management approaches that specifically target or modulate immune system components. As countries continue to grapple with a slew of new and resurgent diseases, the most current worldwide health concern being the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, infectious diseases continue to pose a substantial threat to human health, as evidenced by the recent SARS-CoV2 pandemic. While significant progress has been achieved in diagnosing and understanding the etiology of infectious diseases, current antimicrobial chemotherapy has been shown to be ineffective against a large number of current pathogens. Emerging and reemerging microorganisms create new infectious diseases, have developed resistance to available antibacterial drugs, or are unable to be treated due to a lack of treatment options or are generally ineffective due to underlying host immunological impairment. The HIV epidemic and advancements in cancer, transplantation, and autoimmune disease treatment have increased the number of people with a weakened immune system. As a result, novel approaches to infectious diseases treatment are required. A variety of immunotherapeutic strategies are currently being examined as viable alternative therapeutics for infectious diseases as a result, which has resulted in remarkable advances in the understanding of pathogen-host immunity interactions. The growth of multidrug-resistant bacteria, sometimes known as superbugs, is leading to the emergence of diseases that are becoming increasingly difficult to treat. Gram-negative bacteria and mycobacteria are among the most serious medical problems of the 21st century. Because bacteria have evolved strategies to subvert the immune response, even bacteria that are sensitive to antibiotics can persist in the presence of these drugs. As a result, a diverse variety of effective treatment options or adjuncts to conventional antimicrobial therapy are urgently needed to minimize the burden of disease posed by antibiotic resistance. As indicated by the recent invention and success of drugs such as mABs, immunotherapies already offer a great deal of promise for overcoming these constraints while also pushing the boundaries of medicine. While the majority of immunotherapeutic strategies have their origins in cancer treatment, recent advances, such as those in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis as well as zika virus, malaria, and most recently COVID-19 strengthen the role that immunotherapeutic approaches play in disease control. Finally, the complete specificity, safety, and affordability of immunotherapies will have an effect on their general adoption. Various immunotherapies, including vaccines (both prophylactic and therapeutic), monoclonal antibodies, pathogens, recombinant proteins, cellular immunotherapies, and cytokines are being developed, and their application in the treatment of a wide range of diseases is changing our approach to treating these diseases. In this chapter we will explore recent breakthroughs in the field of bacterial infection treatment and emphasize present and future perspectives on the use of immunotherapies to treat bacterial infections. Recent advances in the field of bacterial infection prevention and treatment will also be discussed in this chapter, as will present and future perspectives on the use of immunotherapies to combat bacterial infections in the context of infectious diseases. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.