Immunoepidemiology of Meningococcal Disease in Military Recruits. I. A Model for Serogroup Independency of Epidemic Potential as Determined by Serotyping

Abstract

One hundred twenty strains of Neisseria meningitidis were serotyped with use of cross-absorbed rabbit antisera in a bactericidal test. Fifty-eight epidemic strains of serogroup B, C, and Y that occurred simultaneously among military recruits at two basic training centers during a period of epidemic meningococcal disease were compared with 62 strains of serogroups A, B, C, and Y isolated worldwide. Antisera to the six original antigenic factors of the Gold serotyping schema were adequate for typing 94% of strains, including all of the epidemic strains. The array of serotyping factors in the epidemic strains differed from those in the nonepidemic strains. Epidemic strains were almost exclusively of two serotypes, with type CII predominant among strains of groups B and C. Concurrent strains of groups B and C were invariably of the same serotype. A model for the epidemic potential of meningococcal strains, which is based on their serotype and serogroup antigens, and a modification of the original Gold typing schema are presented.

Genetic structure of Neisseria meningitidis populations in relation to serogroup, serotype, and outer membrane protein pattern

“…The finding that single ETs may be represented by isolates of several serogroups adds to the evidence, first provided by serotyping, that serogrouping is of limited value as an epidemiological tool (17 (3).…”

Complex of Meningococcal Group B Polysaccharide and Type 2 Outer Membrane Protein Immunogenic in Man

“…In this case, serotype P2-specific antibodies may provide important backup protection against at least type P2 strains which have figured prominently in recent group B and group C epidemics (2,12,13). Type P2-specific antibodies Vaccine was administered at 0 and 5 wk.…”

“…Tests were performed as described in section 610. 13 (Table I). Protein plus silaic acid accounted for about 95% of the dry weight of lot BP2-WZ-2 and 87% of lot BP2-PA-3.…”

“…This result, together with evidence of poor antibody responses to the group B polysaccharide after natural group B infection (6,7), has led to the study of noncapsular surface antigens as potential vaccines (8)(9)(10)(11). The serotype 2 outer membrane protein has been of particular interest because in recent years serotype 2 strains have been responsible for a high percentage of group B disease (3,12,13), and the outer membrane proteins can be separated from the toxic lipopolysaccharide (LPS)1 in a form that is both immunogenic and protective in animals (8,11). Animal models, however, have thus far proven to be inadequate for predicting immunogenicity of meningococcal capsular polysaccharide (14) and outer membrane protein (8) antigens in human beings.…”

N-terminal amino acid sequences of the major outer membrane proteins from a Neisseria meningitidis group B strain isolated in Brazil

“…As C1, the C2 (class 2 OMP) and C3 (class 3 OMP) are porin-like proteins (anion-specific) and are mutually exclusive since meningococcal strains have either the class 2 or class 3 proteins. These antigens represent the predominant proteins on the outer membrane (Tommassen et al 1990, Van der Ley et al 1991, Van der Ley & Poolman 1992 and, because of their limited antigenic variation, they have been used to define at least 20 serotypes (Griffiss et al 1977). C4 (class 4 OMP) appears to be the highly conserved between meningococcal strains.…”