Lack of Association between Group B Meningococcal Disease and Autoimmune Disease

Abstract

Our findings suggest that invasive disease caused by GBM is not associated with autoimmune diseases in humans for up to 31 years after meningococcal disease and should lessen concerns regarding the development of a capsular-based GBM vaccine.

Genetic and antigenic characterization of invasive endemic serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis from Ontario, Canada, in 2001–2010

“…Therefore, development of a universal vaccine against serogroup B based on its capsule is not feasible. Despite this worry that the MenB capsule may induce autoimmunity, MenB disease or the presence of antibodies to the serogroup B capsule has not been reported to be associated with autoimmune disease after decades of observation (Howitz et al, 2007;Robbins et al, 2011). PorA outer-membrane protein (OMP)-based vesicle vaccines have been developed and used in countries that had experienced epidemics of serogroup B IMD (Bjune et al, 1991;Sierra et al, 1991;de Moraes et al, 1992;Oster et al, 2005).…”

Controlling serogroup B invasive meningococcal disease: the Canadian perspective

“…Although methods have been developed to circumvent this immunological tolerance [40,41], the possibility of inducing autoimmunity with these capsular candidates is too grave to overcome. Despite this concern, autoimmune diseases have not been described after invasive MenB disease or when antibodies to the MenB capsule are present in humans [42,43]. Nevertheless, most current efforts to develop MenB vaccines have focused on antigens found beneath the capsular polysaccharide.…”

Capsular polysaccharide vaccine for Group BNeisseria meningitidis,Escherichia coliK1, andPasteurella haemolyticaA2

“…There was no mention of Guillan-Barré, multiple sclerosis, or other autoimmune diseases in any of the patients. The works by Howitz et al (56,57) from the Statens Seruminstitut in Copenhagen evaluated autoimmunity in patients convalescent from GBM (n = 2,894) and GCM (n = 914) diseases in Denmark from 1977 to 2004. They did not find an association of GBM infection and autoimmune disease for up to 31 y after meningococcal disease (56,57).…”

“…The works by Howitz et al (56,57) from the Statens Seruminstitut in Copenhagen evaluated autoimmunity in patients convalescent from GBM (n = 2,894) and GCM (n = 914) diseases in Denmark from 1977 to 2004. They did not find an association of GBM infection and autoimmune disease for up to 31 y after meningococcal disease (56,57). GBM meningitis posed no risk of stillbirth, preterm birth, small for age, birth defects, or diseases of the nervous system or autoimmune disease within the first 3 y of life.…”