Role of factor H binding protein in Neisseria meningitidis virulence and its potential as a vaccine candidate to broadly protect against meningococcal disease.

ABSTRACT: Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative microorganism that exists exclusively in humans and can cause devastating invasive disease. Although capsular polysaccharide-based vaccines against serogroups A, C, Y, and W135 are widely available, the pathway to a broadly protective vaccine against serogroup B has been more complex. The last 11 years has seen the discovery and development of the N. meningitidis serogroup B (MnB) outer membrane protein factor H binding protein (fHBP) as a vaccine component. Since the initial discovery of fHBP, a tremendous amount of work has accumulated on the diversity, structure, and regulation of this important protein. fHBP has proved to be a virulence factor for N. meningitidis and a target for functional bactericidal antibodies. fHBP is critical for survival

SUBMITTER: McNeil LK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3668674 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature