Inhibitory effect of saliva from secretors and non-secretors on binding of meningococci to epithelial cells.
Carriage of Neisseria meningitidis B:4:P1.15 was higher among non-secretors during a school outbreak of meningitis; non-secretors had lower levels of anti-meningococcal salivary IgM. Flow cytometry was used to assess effects of secretor and non-secretor saliva on binding of B:4:P1.15 to buccal epithelial cells: (1) to assess inhibition by IgA and IgM; and (2) to assess contributions of salivary antibodies to inhibitory activities. Greater inhibition was obtained with secretor saliva: pooled (P = 0.049); fresh (P = 0.0001). Purified IgA (P = 0.02) and IgM (P = 0.03) were equally inhibitory. After absorption of anti-meningococcal antibodies, there was still significant inhibitory activity in the pools: secretors (P = 0.018); non-secretors (P = 0.005). These results indicate that both secretory immunoglobulins and other factors contribute to protection against colonisation by meningococci and might explain the increased carriage of B:4:1.15 in this population.
Zorgani
A A
AA
Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical School, Edinburgh, UK.
Stewart
J
J
Blackwell
C C
CC
Elton
R A
RA
Weir
D M
DM
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000502:physiology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000502:physiology; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000502:physiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007075:Immunoglobulin M