Immunization with Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane vesicles prevents bacteremia in neonatal mice.
Although vaccines based on outer membrane vesicles (OMV) of Neisseria meningitidis have been developed and administered to children, little is known about the magnitude and quality of the immune response in animal models of early life immunization. We investigated the immunogenicity of meningococcal OMV, and the influence of route and immunization schedule, in neonatal mice. The administration of two intraperitoneal doses of OMV, given at 7 and 14 days after birth, induced a significant antibody response and was highly effective in conferring protection against bacteremia in 21-day-old mice challenged with meningococci. Intranasal immunization was less effective and did not generate a protective immune response. The antibodies elicited by intraperitoneal immunization were cross-reactive with several meningococcal strains and a memory response was demonstrated when mice immunized as neonates were given a booster immunization at 6 weeks of age.
González
Sonia
S
Division of Vaccines, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, P.O. Box 6162, Havana 10600, Cuba. sonia.gonzalez@cigb.edu.cu
Caballero
Evelin
E
Soria
Yordanka
Y
Cobas
Karem
K
Granadillo
Milaid
M
Pajón
Rolando
R
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines