Definition of meningococcal class 1 OMP subtyping antigens by monoclonal antibodies

Abstract

The subtypes of meningococci are defined by antigenic determinants on the class 1 outer membrane proteins. The established subtypes, designated by P1 and a number according to the prototype reference strain on which they were first recognized by monoclonal antibodies, includes P1.2, P1.9, P1.15 and P1.16. We have investigated more prototype reference strains, using new monoclonal antibodies, and identified the new subtypes P1.1, P1.6 and P1.1,16. The P1.1,16 epitope is found on both the P1.1 and the P1.16 reference strains, but not on all P1.1 and P1.16 strains and can occur independently from the P1.1 and the P1.16 epitopes. It appears that class 1 outer membrane proteins contain at least two independent subtype‐specific epitopes. For clarity, we now redefine P1.1,16 as P1.7, permitting thus the identification of strains of P1.1, P1.1,7, P1.7, P1.7,16 and P1.16 subtypes. It can clearly be expected that more class 1 outer membrane protein determinants will be recognized as more monoclonal typing antibodies are produced. The monoclonal antibodies now available to us can subtype 80–90% of group B and C meningococci; they also react with group A meningococci, but not with other Neisseriae. The immunological dissection of these subtyping antigens will improve our understanding of the relationship between components of the bacteria and the induction or prevention of disease.

Phenotypic and Genotypic Approaches to Characterization of Isolates of Neisseria meningitidis from Patients and Their Close Family Contacts

“…Serogroups were determined by slide agglutination with polyclonal antisera to serogroups A, B, C, W-135, X, Y, and Z (Wellcome Diagnostics). Serotypes and subtypes were determined by whole-cell enzymelinked immunoassay with monoclonal antibody reagents supplied by the Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (Bilthoven, The Netherlands) and the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (Potters Bar, United Kingdom) (1,2).…”

“…This culminated in the development of a scheme that included the capsular polysaccharide (serogroup) and two of the major outer membrane protein antigens PorB (serotype) and PorA (serosubtype) (15). This scheme was of great assistance in numerous epidemiological investigations of meningococcal disease, and the development and distribution of commercial kits for serogroup determination (37) and monoclonal antibodies for serotype and serosubtype identification (1,2) resulted in the wide acceptance of this technique.…”

Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Scotland, 1994 to 1999, with Emphasis on Group B Meningococcal Disease

“…Of the five different structural classes of outer membrane proteins (OMPs), class 2 or 3 OMP (PorB) is expressed by all meningococci and defines the serotype (14). Class 1 protein (PorA) is generally present in most meningococci and determines the serosubtype (2).…”

Targeted vaccination with meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine in one district of the Czech Republic

“…The serogroups are based on the capsular polysaccharide [9][10][11][12][13][14][15], and strains of Neisseria meningitidis can further be divided into serotypes and serosubtypes, based on non-capsular outer membrane proteins [16,17]. Several kinds of vaccines against Neisseria meningitidis have been developed: polysaccharide (A, C, Y, W135) and conjugated (combining the capsular and non-capsular antigens).…”