Protective antibody responses elicited by a meningococcal outer membrane vesicle vaccine with overexpressed genome-derived neisserial antigen 1870

J Infect Dis. 2005 Aug 15;192(4):580-90. doi: 10.1086/432102. Epub 2005 Jul 15.

Abstract

Background. Meningococcal outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccines are efficacious in humans but have serosubtype-specific serum bactericidal antibody responses directed at the porin protein PorA and the potential for immune selection of PorA-escape mutants.Methods. We prepared an OMV vaccine from a Neisseria meningitidis strain engineered to overexpress genome-derived neisserial antigen (GNA) 1870, a lipoprotein discovered by genome mining that is being investigated for use in a vaccine.Results. Mice immunized with the modified GNA1870-OMV vaccine developed broader serum bactericidal antibody responses than control mice immunized with a recombinant GNA1870 protein vaccine or an OMV vaccine prepared from wild-type N. meningitidis or a combination of vaccines prepared from wild-type N. meningitidis and recombinant protein. Antiserum from mice immunized with the modified GNA1870-OMV vaccine also elicited greater deposition of human C3 complement on the surface of live N. meningitidis bacteria and greater passive protective activity against meningococcal bacteremia in infant rats. A N. meningitidis mutant with decreased expression of PorA was more susceptible to bactericidal activity of anti-GNA1870 antibodies.Conclusions. The modified GNA1870-OMV vaccine elicits broader protection against meningococcal disease than recombinant GNA1870 protein or conventional OMV vaccines and also has less risk of selection of PorA-escape mutants than a conventional OMV vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Antibody Affinity
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Bacteremia / prevention & control
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / immunology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology*
  • Complement C3 / physiology
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meningococcal Infections / prevention & control
  • Meningococcal Vaccines / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Neisseria meningitidis / immunology*
  • Rats

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Complement C3
  • Meningococcal Vaccines
  • antigen 1870, Neisseria meningitidis