title: Immunogenicity and thermal stability of a combined vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b and Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C diseases.
abstract: The immunogenicity, structure and stability of a combined conjugate vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b and meningococcal serogroup C (Hib/MenC) were investigated. A rat model for immunogenicity showed that antibody responses to Hib and MenC in the combined vaccine were similar to or higher than those of individual conjugates given alone, or concomitantly at separate sites. At elevated temperatures, the combination vaccine was slightly more stable than a monovalent Hib-TT vaccine, with respect to molecular size, which could be attributed to differences in the formulations. Following 5 weeks incubation at 56 degrees C, there was some dissociation of high molecular weight conjugate without significant loss of saccharide integrity; however, this did not significantly affect the vaccine immunogenicity, demonstrating the stability of this lyophilized vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Bacteriology Division, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Health Protection Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 3QG, UK.
authors.forename: Manolya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saydam
authors.forename: Karena
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Burkin
authors.forename: Rory
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Care
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rigsby
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bolgiano
authors.forename: Fatme
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mawas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013696:Temperature; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; C055753:Haemophilus influenza type b polysaccharide vaccine-tetanus toxin conjugate; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D017778:Vaccines, Combined