Open AccessNeisseria meningitidis serogroup B: laboratory correlates of protection
Author(s) -
Vermont Clementien,
Dobbelsteen Germie
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2002.tb00608.x
Subject(s) - neisseria meningitidis , immunogenicity , meningococcal disease , meningococcal vaccine , vaccination , biology , neisseriaceae , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , antigen , medicine , immunization , antibiotics , bacteria , genetics
Meningococcal disease in the Western countries is frequently caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B. Major efforts have been made to develop a safe and efficacious vaccine against this serogroup which is suitable for use in infants and young children. To assess the quality of the immune response after vaccination with candidate vaccines, laboratory correlates of protection are needed. For serogroups A and C, serum bactericidal activity (SBA) is a well established predictor for protection, but for serogroup B other mechanisms besides SBA may also be involved in conferring protection from disease. Several laboratory methods for identification and evaluation of the immunogenicity of possible vaccine antigens are described in this review.