Importance of antibodies to lipopolysaccharide in natural and vaccine-induced serum bactericidal activity against Neisseria meningitidis group B.

ABSTRACT: Analysis of the specificity of bactericidal antibodies in normal, convalescent, and postvaccination human sera is important in understanding human immunity to meningococcal infections and can aid in the design of an effective group B vaccine. A collection of human sera, including group C and group B convalescent-phase sera, normal sera with naturally occurring cross-reactive bactericidal activity, and some postvaccination sera, was analyzed to determine the specificity of cross-reactive bactericidal antibodies. Analysis of human sera using a bactericidal antibody depletion assay demonstrated that a significant portion of the bactericidal activity could be removed by purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS homologous to that expressed on the bactericidal test strain was most effective, but p

SUBMITTER: Schmiel DH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3187254 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature