Blocking of bactericidal killing of Neisseria meningitidis by antibodies directed against class 4 outer membrane protein.
The class 4 protein of Neisseria meningitidis is a highly conserved outer membrane protein, closely related to the protein PIII of Neisseria gonorrhoea. Monoclonal antibodies SM50 and SM54 raised against PIII also react with class 4 protein but do not promote complement mediated bactericidal killing of meningococci. In addition, mAb SM50 inhibits the anti-meningococcal bactericidal activity both of normal human sera and of mAb SM300, directed against a protective epitope on the class 1 outer membrane protein. The ability of class 4 protein to induce such 'blocking' antibodies suggests that its presence in experimental vaccines, based on meningococcal outer membranes, may be antagonistic to the development of effective bactericidal immunity.
Munkley
A
A
Department of Microbiology, University of Southampton Medical School, Southampton General Hospital, U.K.
Tinsley
C R
CR
Virji
M
M
Heckels
J E
JE
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000276:immunology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; C051591:Rmp protein, Neisseria