Measuring antigen-specific bactericidal responses to a multicomponent vaccine against serogroup B meningococcus.
Serum bactericidal activity using human complement is the basis for established correlates of protection against invasive meningococcal disease. During the development of multicomponent protein-based vaccines against meningococcus B, it is necessary to measure antigen-specific bactericidal responses. This is not straightforward because each strain may be killed by antibodies to multiple antigens. We characterized a large panel of strains and, using a competitive inhibition SBA, we identified four strains that are each specifically killed by bactericidal antibodies to one of the major vaccine components. These strains provide a straightforward approach to demonstrate protective responses to each component of the vaccine and demonstrate that each of the antigens in the vaccine is sufficient to provide a potentially protective level of bactericidal activity.
Giuliani
Marzia M
MM
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Via Fiorentina 1, Siena 53100, Italy.
Biolchi
Alessia
A
Serruto
Davide
D
Ferlicca
Francesca
F
Vienken
Kay
K
Oster
Philipp
P
Rappuoli
Rino
R
Pizza
Mariagrazia
M
Donnelly
John
J
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D038541:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D003165:Complement System Proteins