title: The use of vaccine antigen characterization, for example by MATS, to guide the introduction of meningococcus B vaccines.
abstract: Current concepts of vaccines against serogroup B meningococci (MenB) are mainly based on genetically variable protein antigens. Vaccine efficacy studies for meningococcal disease in developed countries are hampered by the low incidence. Licensure must therefore exclusively rely on clinical trials and laboratory investigation of meningococcal strains. In contrast to capsule polysaccharide vaccines, serum bactericidal assays for technical reasons are limited in their practicability as the surrogate of protection provided by MenB vaccines. Therefore, assays are required for reliable laboratory based assessment of expression of those specific antigen variants that are predicted to be targeted by bactericidal antibodies elicited by the vaccine. The MATS ELISA (MATS, meningococcal antigen typing system) reported recently is an example for such an assay. The paper discusses the pre- and post-licensure application of MATS, the role of reference laboratories, concepts of sustained provision of the assay, external quality assessment, and laboratory twinning.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, National Reference Laboratory for Meningococci, University of Würzburg, Germany. uvogel@hygiene.uni-wuerzburg.de
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stefanelli
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vazquez
authors.forename: Muhamed-Kheir
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Claus
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donnelly
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D038541:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines