Cross-reacting serum opsonins in patients with meningococcal disease.
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.
Guttormsen
H K
HK
Medical Department B, University of Bergen, Haukeland Hospital, Norway.
Bjerknes
R
R
Naess
A
A
Lehmann
V
V
Halstensen
A
A
Sørnes
S
S
Solberg
C O
CO
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
D009895:Opsonin Proteins