Human antibody response to the 70-Kd common neisserial antigen in patients and carriers of meningococci or non-pathogenic Neisseria.
A surface antigen of 70 Kd, common to most Neisseria species, was previously described. This antigen is expressed and immunogenic in vivo in humans since 70-Kd-specific antibodies were detected in 22/26 patients with meningococcal meningitis and 12/17 healthy meningococcal carriers. Sera from convalescent patients and from carriers blocked the binding between mouse 70-Kd-specific serum and a strain of N. gonorrhoeae. The correspondence between inhibition-ELISA, using whole gonococci as solid phase, and detection of anti-70-Kd antibodies by Western blotting confirmed the specificity of the mouse serum. Non-pathogenic Neisseria species although possessing the 70-Kd structure elicited less frequently an antibody response in children. The immunogenicity of the 70-Kd antigen in humans supports its potential use as a vaccine component.
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000276:immunology*; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology; D009343:Neisseria / Q000276:immunology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface