Search results for " Meningococcal"
showing 6 items of 16 documents
Persistence of Bactericidal Antibodies After Infant Serogroup B Meningococcal Immunization and Booster Dose Response at 12, 18 or 24 Months of Age
2016
Background: A serogroup B meningococcal vaccine (4CMenB) is licensed for infant use in countries including Canada, Australia and those of the European Union. Data on serum bactericidal antibody (hSBA) waning and the ideal timing of a "toddler" booster dose are essential to optimize vaccine utilization. Methods: An open-labeled, multicenter phase-2b follow-on European study conducted from 2009 to 2012. Participants previously receiving 4CMenB with routine vaccines at 2, 4 and 6 or 2, 3 and 4 months (246Con and 234Con) or at 2, 4 and 6 months intercalated with routine vaccines (246Int) received a booster dose at 12, 18 or 24 months. 4CMenB-naive "Control" participants aged 12, 18 or 24 months…
Recognition of Neisseria meningitidis by the long pentraxin PTX3 and its role as an endogenous adjuvant.
2015
Long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a non-redundant component of the humoral arm of innate immunity. The present study was designed to investigate the interaction of PTX3 with Neisseria meningitidis. PTX3 bound acapsular meningococcus, Neisseria-derived outer membrane vesicles (OMV) and 3 selected meningococcal antigens (GNA0667, GNA1030 and GNA2091). PTX3-recognized microbial moieties are conserved structures which fulfil essential microbial functions. Ptx3-deficient mice had a lower antibody response in vaccination protocols with OMV and co-administration of PTX3 increased the antibody response, particularly in Ptx3-deficient mice. Administration of PTX3 reduced the bacterial load in infant rats c…
Molecular, genetic, and functional analysis of homozygous C8 beta-chain deficiency in two siblings.
1998
Abstract C8 deficiency is associated with an increased susceptibility to neisserial infections. We present a case of an 11 year old boy who suffered from infection with Neisseria meningitidis . Medical history of the patient and his family ( n = 5) did not indicate any previous immunodeficiency symptoms. Results from the analysis of phagocyte and lymphocyte functions were within the normal range. No hemolytic activities of the classical (CH50) and the alternative (APH50) pathways of complement were measurable, and SC5b-9 protein complexes could not be detected in the patient's plasma. Further analysis by highly sensitive ELISA and functional assays revealed a complete deficiency of C8. Upon…
Towards understanding the epidemiology of Neisseria meningitidis in the African meningitis belt: a multi-disciplinary overview
2016
International audience; Objectives: Neisseria meningitidis is the major cause of seasonal meningitis epidemics in the African meningitis belt. In the changing context of a reduction in incidence of serogroup A and an increase in incidence of serogroups W and C and of Streptococcus pneumoniae, a better understanding of the determinants driving the disease transmission dynamics remains crucial to improving bacterial meningitis control.Methods: The literature was searched to provide a multi-disciplinary overview of the determinants of meningitis transmission dynamics in the African meningitis belt.Results: Seasonal hyperendemicity is likely predominantly caused by increased invasion rates, spo…
The association between respiratory tract infection incidence and localised meningitis epidemics: an analysis of high-resolution surveillance data fr…
2017
AbstractMeningococcal meningitis epidemics in the African meningitis belt consist of localised meningitis epidemics (LME) that reach attack proportions of 1% within a few weeks. A meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine was introduced in meningitis belt countries from 2010 on, but LME due to other serogroups continue to occur. The mechanisms underlying LME are poorly understood, but an association with respiratory pathogens has been hypothesised. We analysed national routine surveillance data in high spatial resolution (health centre level) from 13 districts in Burkina Faso, 2004–2014. We defined LME as a weekly incidence rate of suspected meningitis ≥75 per 100,000 during ≥2 weeks; and…
How the knowledge of interactions between meningococcus and the human immune system has been used to prepare effective Neisseria meningitidis vaccines
2015
In the last decades, tremendous advancement in dissecting the mechanisms of pathogenicity ofNeisseria meningitidisat a molecular level has been achieved, exploiting converging approaches of different disciplines, ranging from pathology to microbiology, immunology, and omics sciences (such as genomics and proteomics). Here, we review the molecular biology of the infectious agent and, in particular, its interactions with the immune system, focusing on both the innate and the adaptive responses. Meningococci exploit different mechanisms and complex machineries in order to subvert the immune system and to avoid being killed. Capsular polysaccharide and lipooligosaccharide glycan composition, in…