Immunogenicity of meningococcal PBP2 during natural infection and protective activity of anti-PBP2 antibodies against meningococcal bacteraemia in mice

• Published in: Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy Vol. 57; no. 5; pp. 924 - 930
• Main Authors: Zarantonelli, Maria Leticia, Antignac, Aude, Lancellotti, Marcelo, Guiyoule, Annie, Alonso, Jean-Michel, Taha, Muhamed-Kheir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01-05-2006; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: animal model; Animals; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antibodies, Monoclonal - administration & dosage; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial sepsis; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Bactericidal Activity; Cloning, Molecular; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Immunization, Passive; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Meningococcal Infections - immunology; Meningococcal Infections - prevention & control; Meningococcal Vaccines - administration & dosage; Meningococcal Vaccines - immunology; Meningococcal Vaccines - therapeutic use; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Neisseria meningitidis; Neisseria meningitidis - immunology; penicillin-binding proteins; Penicillin-Binding Proteins - immunology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Rabbits; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - administration & dosage; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - immunology; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - therapeutic use; vaccine; Animal model; Immune response; Antibody; Neisseriaceae; Rodentia; Neisseria meningitidis; Vaccine; Biological activity; Bacteremia; Penicillin binding protein; Infection; Prevention; Immunoprophylaxis; Vertebrata; penicillin-binding proteins; Mammalia; Immunogenicity; Mouse; Animal; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Meningococcal disease
• ISSN: 0305-7453; 1460-2091
• DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkl066

Objective: To evaluate the immunogenicity of the meningococcal penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2) and its potential as a vaccine candidate. Methods: The immunogenicity of meningococcal PBP2 was investigated using acute and convalescent sera from patients who recovered from meningococcal disease. Sera were tested against purified recombinant PBP2s corresponding to meningococcal isolates of different genetic lineages, of different serogroups and with various susceptibility levels to penicillin G. Mice were vaccinated with recombinant PBP2 and challenged with Neisseria meningitidis. A purified anti-PBP2 rabbit IgG was also used for passive protection experiments in mice. Results: Convalescent patients' sera recognized PBP2s from different strains, showing that this protein is immunogenic in meningococcal disease. Vaccination with purified recombinant PBP2 and purified anti-PBP2 rabbit IgG antibody conferred protection against experimental meningococcaemia in mice. Conclusion: These data argue for considering meningococcal PBP2 as a vaccine candidate.