Peptide mimics of the group B meningococcal capsule induce bactericidal and protective antibodies after immunization.

Abstract	Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB) is a leading cause of sepsis and meningitis in children. No vaccine is available for the prevention of these infections because the group B capsular polysaccharide (CP) (MenB CP) is unable to stimulate an immune response, due to its similarity with human polysialic acid. Because the MenB CP bears both human cross-reactive and non-cross-reactive determinants, we developed immunogenic peptide mimics of the latter epitopes. Peptides were selected from phage display libraries for their ability to bind to a protective anti-MenB CP mAb. One of these peptides (designated 9M) induced marked elevations in serum bactericidal activity, but not polysialic acid cross-reacting Abs, after gene priming followed by carrier-conjugate boosting. Moreover, the occurrence of bacteremia was prevented in infant rats by administration of immune sera before MenB challenge. 9M is a promising lead candidate for the development of an effective and affordable anti-MenB vaccine.
Authors	Carla Lo Passo, Angela Romeo, Ida Pernice, Paolo Donato, Angelina Midiri, Giuseppe Mancuso, Milena Arigò, Carmelo Biondo, Roberta Galbo, Salvatore Papasergi, Franco Felici, Giuseppe Teti, Concetta Beninati
Journal	Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) (J Immunol) Vol. 178 Issue 7 Pg. 4417-23 (Apr 01 2007) ISSN: 0022-1767 [Print] United States
PMID	17371999 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Chemical References	Antibodies, Bacterial Antibodies, Monoclonal Immune Sera Meningococcal Vaccines Peptide Library Peptides Polysaccharides, Bacterial capsular polysaccharide, meningococcal group B peptide 9M DNA
Topics	Amino Acid Sequence Animals Antibodies, Bacterial (blood) Antibodies, Monoclonal (immunology) Bacteremia (prevention & control) Bacterial Capsules DNA (genetics) Immune Sera (immunology) Immunization Immunization, Passive Meningococcal Infections (prevention & control) Meningococcal Vaccines (immunology) Mice Mice, Inbred BALB C Molecular Mimicry Molecular Sequence Data Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B Peptide Library Peptides (genetics, immunology, pharmacology) Plasmids (genetics) Polysaccharides, Bacterial (chemistry, immunology) Rats Rats, Inbred BB

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