title: History of meningococcal vaccines and their serological correlates of protection.
abstract: For over a hundred years Neisseria meningitidis has been known to be one of the major causes of bacterial meningitis. However, effective vaccines were not developed until the latter part of the 20th century. The first of these were based on purified high molecular weight capsular polysaccharides and more recently the development of glycoconjugate vaccines has made paediatric immunisation programmes possible. The prevention of group B meningococcal disease has remained a challenge throughout this period. This review charts the history of the development of meningococcal vaccines and the importance of serological correlates of protection in their evaluation.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vipond
authors.forename: Rory
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Care
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Feavers
mesh_terms: D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000266:history* / Q000276:immunology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*
chemical_list: D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines