Differences in surface expression of NspA among Neisseria meningitidis group B strains.

ABSTRACT: NspA is a highly conserved membrane protein that is reported to elicit protective antibody responses against Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, B and C in mice (D. Martin, N. Cadieux, J. Hanel, and B. R. Brodeur, J. Exp. Med. 185:1173-1183, 1997). To investigate the vaccine potential of NspA, we produced mouse anti-recombinant NspA (rNspA) antisera, which were used to evaluate the accessibility of NspA epitopes on the surface of different serogroup B strains by an immunofluorescence flow cytometric assay and by susceptibility to antibody-dependent, complement-mediated bacteriolysis. Among 17 genetically diverse strains tested, 11 (65%) were positive for NspA cell surface epitopes and 6 (35%) were negative. All six negative strains also were resistant to bactericidal activity induced by t

SUBMITTER: Moe GR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC96940 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature