Cross-reacting serum opsonins in patients with meningococcal disease.

Abstract

We have examined the opsonic activity of sera from patients with Neisseria meningitidis (B:15:P1.16) infections against different meningococcal strains, using flow cytometry and luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence. A marked increase in the phagocytosis of ethanol-fixed meningococcal strains of different serogroups, serotypes, and serosubtypes was demonstrated in the presence of convalescence sera compared with acute sera. Convalescence sera also caused a significant increase of leukocyte oxidative metabolism during phagocytosis, as measured by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence. The sera contained a broad range of opsonins cross-reacting with serogroup A, B, C, W-135, and Y meningococci of different serotypes and serosubtypes, indicating that the cross-reacting opsonins recognized surface epitopes other than those determined by current serotyping schemes.

• Authors: H K Guttormsen, R Bjerknes, A Naess, V Lehmann, A Halstensen, S Sørnes, C O Solberg
• Journal: Infection and immunity (Infect Immun) Vol. 60 Issue 7 Pg. 2777-83 (Jul 1992) ISSN: 0019-9567 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1612745 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Opsonin Proteins

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Cross Reactions
• Female
• Flow Cytometry
• Humans
• Immunization, Passive
• Leukocytes (metabolism)
• Luminescent Measurements
• Male
• Meningitis, Meningococcal (blood, immunology)
• Middle Aged
• Neisseria meningitidis
• Opsonin Proteins (blood, physiology)
• Phagocytosis
• Respiratory Burst (immunology)
• Serotyping
• Time Factors