title: Antiidiotype antibodies as surrogates for polysaccharide vaccines.
abstract: In past studies we demonstrated that monoclonal antibody 6F9 is a surrogate image of the meningococcal C capsular polysaccharide. These studies indicated that immunization with this anti-id resulted in a T-dependent antibody response. In the studies reported in this paper, we show that the response which is elicited is protective. Using a model of meningococcal infection in BALB/c mice in which the animals are rendered susceptible with iron dextran, we studied the ability of this anti-id to protect adult mice against challenge. These studies encompassed the ability of 6F9 to prime neonatal mice and provide them with protection to later challenge. Adult BALB/c mice immunized with 6F9 had a 100% survival and a significantly reduced level of bacteremia at 24 hours. Neonatal mice primed within 24 hours of birth and immunized at 4 weeks of age with 6F9 had a 100% survival and cleared their bacteremia by 8 hours. Neonatal mice primed with 6F9 and challenged at 5 weeks had a 90% survival. These data indicate that anti-id 6F9 is a surrogate antigen for the meningococcal C polysaccharide and is capable of inducing protective immunity in immunologically mature as well as immature animals.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43699-0008.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Westerink
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Campagnari
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giardina
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Apicella
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000276:immunology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines