title: Analysis of Moraxella catarrhalis outer membrane antigens cross-reactive with Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria lactamica.
abstract: Mouse sera against outer membrane proteins from Moraxella catarrhalis, Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria lactamica, and human sera from both healthy individuals and patients convalescing from meningococcal meningitis were used to identify cross-reactive antigens. Mouse anti-N. meningitidis and anti-N. lactamica sera recognized 77, 62 and 32 kDa outer membrane antigens in M. catarrhalis strains; on the contrary, the meningococcal porin PorB (38-42 kDa) was recognized by one of the two anti-M. catarrhalis sera. Human sera from both healthy individuals and patients convalescing from meningococcal meningitis also showed cross-reactive antibodies against these proteins. The existence of cross-reactive antigens in M. catarrhalis and N. meningitidis (as well as in N. lactamica) could favor the development of natural immunization against both pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Troncoso
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Criado
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferreirós
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D001936:Moraxella catarrhalis / Q000276:immunology*; D009343:Neisseria / Q000276:immunology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D007106:Immune Sera