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IgY technology: Strategy in the treatment of human infectious diseases

Abstract:

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, the discovery of new pathogens with pandemic potential, and the rise of an immunocompromised population have rendered antimicrobial therapy, a commonly used therapy to treat infectious diseases, almost obsolete. On the other hand, research into the use of IgY antibodies to develop passive immunity has demonstrated the potential of IgY technology to treat viral and bacterial infectious diseases. Avian IgY antibodies stand out for their high specificity, performance, and scalability at a lower cost relative to mammalian IgG antibodies. This review aims to compile information on the use of IgY antibodies as therapeutic and prophylactic treatment against pathogens causing viral and bacterial infections in humans by collecting clinical trials, commercial products, and patents registered in 2010-2021. Finally, this study established that IgY technology is a versatile and effective biotechnological tool to treat and prevent infectious diseases by reducing symptoms and pathogen burden.