title: Cross-reacting serum opsonins in patients with meningococcal disease.
abstract: We have examined the opsonic activity of sera from patients with Neisseria meningitidis (B:15:P1.16) infections against different meningococcal strains, using flow cytometry and luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence. A marked increase in the phagocytosis of ethanol-fixed meningococcal strains of different serogroups, serotypes, and serosubtypes was demonstrated in the presence of convalescence sera compared with acute sera. Convalescence sera also caused a significant increase of leukocyte oxidative metabolism during phagocytosis, as measured by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence. The sera contained a broad range of opsonins cross-reacting with serogroup A, B, C, W-135, and Y meningococci of different serotypes and serosubtypes, indicating that the cross-reacting opsonins recognized surface epitopes other than those determined by current serotyping schemes.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department B, University of Bergen, Haukeland Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Guttormsen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bjerknes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naess
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halstensen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sørnes
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Solberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis; D009895:Opsonin Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000276:immunology; D012703:Serotyping; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009895:Opsonin Proteins