title: Transcriptome-based antigen identification for Neisseria meningitidis.
abstract: The identification of suitable antigens is crucial to successful vaccine development based on subunit approaches. While many methods exist for the identification of vaccine candidates which are surface-exposed or secreted, immunogenic and conserved, contain B and T cell epitopes, most of these have a major drawback: they do not yield any information on whether the antigen is indeed expressed by the pathogen during infection. However, DNA microarrays offer a novel tool for the investigation of the transcriptional activity of all genes of a pathogenic microorganism under in vivo conditions. Employing whole genome DNA microarrays, we have analyzed the transcriptome of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B bacteria during different stages of infection, i.e. exposure to human serum and the interaction with human epithelial and endothelial cells. Combined with data derived from genome-based approaches (such as reverse vaccinology) and immunogenicity studies, this novel transcriptome-based antigen identification should reveal ideal vaccine candidates against serogroup B meningococcal infection.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider Str 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurz
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hübner
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aepinus
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Theiss
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guckenberger
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Panzner
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frosch
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dietrich
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface