Bordetella pertussis fimbriae are effective carrier proteins in Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C conjugate vaccines

FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2001 Aug;31(2):153-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-695X.2001.tb00512.x.

Abstract

Serogroup C meningococcal conjugate vaccines generally use diphtheria or tetanus toxoids as the protein carriers. The use of alternative carrier proteins may allow multivalent conjugate vaccines to be formulated into a single injection and circumvent potential problems of immune suppression in primed individuals. Bordetella pertussis fimbriae were assessed as carrier proteins for Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C polysaccharide. Fimbriae were conjugated to the polysaccharide using modifications of published methods and characterised by size exclusion chromatography; co-elution of protein and polysaccharide moieties confirmed conjugation. The conjugates elicited boostable IgG responses to fimbriae and serogroup C polysaccharide in mice, and IgG:IgM ratios indicated that the responses were thymus-dependent. High bactericidal antibody titres against a serogroup C strain of N. meningitidis were also observed. In a mouse infection model, the conjugate vaccine protected against lethal infection with N. meningitidis. Therefore, B. pertussis fimbriae are effective carrier proteins for meningococcal serogroup C polysaccharide and could produce a vaccine to protect against meningococcal disease and to augment protection against pertussis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Bordetella pertussis / physiology*
  • Carrier Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Fimbriae, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • Lung / microbiology
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / immunology
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / prevention & control*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neisseria meningitidis / immunology*
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / administration & dosage
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Trachea / microbiology
  • Vaccines, Conjugate / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Conjugate / adverse effects
  • Vaccines, Conjugate / immunology*
  • Vaccines, Conjugate / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial
  • Vaccines, Conjugate