Additive and synergistic bactericidal activity of antibodies directed against minor outer membrane proteins of Neisseria meningitidis

Infect Immun. 2007 Nov;75(11):5434-42. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00411-07. Epub 2007 Jul 30.

Abstract

Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B is a major cause of bacterial meningitis in younger populations. The available vaccines are based on outer membrane vesicles obtained from wild-type strains. In children less than 2 years old they confer protection only against strains expressing homologous PorA, a major, variable outer membrane protein (OMP). We genetically modified a strain in order to eliminate PorA and to overproduce one or several minor and conserved OMPs. Using a mouse model mimicking children's PorA-specific bactericidal activity, it was demonstrated that overproduction of more than one minor OMP is required to elicit antibodies able to induce complement-mediated killing of strains expressing heterologous PorA. It is concluded that a critical density of bactericidal antibodies needs to be reached at the surface of meningococci to induce complement-mediated killing. With minor OMPs, this threshold is reached when more than one antigen is targeted, and this allows cross-protection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / pharmacology*
  • Blood Bactericidal Activity
  • Drug Synergism
  • Female
  • Gene Deletion
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology*
  • Meningococcal Infections / immunology
  • Meningococcal Infections / prevention & control
  • Mice
  • Microbial Viability
  • Neisseria meningitidis / genetics
  • Neisseria meningitidis / immunology*
  • Porins / genetics

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Porins
  • porin protein, Neisseria