title: Genetic and immunologic characterization of a novel serotype 4, 15 strain of Neisseria meningitidis.
abstract: The porin proteins of Neisseria meningitidis are important components of outer membrane protein (OMP) vaccines. The class 3 porin gene, porB, of a novel serogroup B, serotype 4, 15 isolate from Chile (Ch501) was found to be VR1-4, VR2-15, VR3-15 and VR4-15 by porB variable region (VR) typing. Rabbit immunization studies using outer membrane vesicles revealed immunodominance of individual PorB (class 3) VR epitopes. The predominant anti-Ch501 PorB response was directed to the VR1 epitope. Anti-PorB VR1 mediated killing was suggested by the bactericidal activity of Ch501 anti-sera against a type 4 strain not expressing PorA or class 5 OMPs. Studies that examine the molecular epidemiology of individual porB VRs, and the immune responses to PorB epitopes, may contribute to the development of broadly protective group B meningococcal vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Division of Bacterial Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. bash@cber.fda.gov
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bash
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lynn
authors.forename: N F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Concepcion
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tappero
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Carlone
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Frasch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018272:Porins; D011817:Rabbits; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012703:Serotyping; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D018272:Porins; C057699:porin protein, Neisseria