Putative vaccine antigens from Neisseria meningitidis recognized by serum antibodies of young children convalescing after meningococcal disease.
Serum samples from 31 children < or = 4 years old who were convalescing after meningococcal disease were used in a quantitative hybridization assay to establish antibody reactivity to 94 candidate meningococcal vaccine antigens. Genes encoding 22 of 23 strongly recognized proteins were found in > or = 94% of the patients' meningococcal strains, and most were also widely prevalent in Neisseria lactamica and other commensal Neisseria species. Similar antibody reactivity was found in serum samples from healthy control children, suggesting that these antibodies arose from asymptomatic colonization. The 23rd protein, NadA, elicited strong reactivity solely in convalescent patients previously infected with a nadA+ strain. nadA was not present in any of 29 diverse N. lactamica strains, suggesting that reactivity in these children arose from meningococcal infection. In contrast, serum samples from healthy adults contained anti-NadA immunoglobulin G at high levels. The correlation of NadA antibody level with natural acquisition of protective immunity suggests that NadA may be a valuable component of a childhood antimeningococcal vaccine.
Litt
David J
DJ
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Wright-Fleming Institute, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Hospital Campus, London, United Kingdom.
Savino
Silvana
S
Beddek
Amanda
A
Comanducci
Maurizio
M
Sandiford
Colin
C
Stevens
Julia
J
Levin
Michael
M
Ison
Cathy
C
Pizza
Mariagrazia
M
Rappuoli
Rino
R
Kroll
J Simon
JS
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003289:Convalescence; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000276:immunology; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins