Blocking of bactericidal killing of Neisseria meningitidis by antibodies directed against class 4 outer membrane protein

Colin R. Tinsley (1, 2) , A. Munkley (1, 2) , M. Virji (1, 2) , J.E. Heckels (1, 2)

1 University of Southampton
2 University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

The class 4 protein of Neisseria meningitidis is a highly conserved outer membrane protein, closely related to the protein PIII of Neisseria gonorrhoea. Monoclonal antibodies SM50 and SM54 raised against PIII also react with class 4 protein but do not promote complement mediated bactericidal killing of meningococci. In addition, mAb SM50 inhibits the anti-meningococcal bactericidal activity both of normal human sera and of mAb SM300, directed against a protective epitope on the class 1 outer membrane protein. The ability of class 4 protein to induce such 'blocking' antibodies suggests that its presence in experimental vaccines, based on meningococcal outer membranes, may be antagonistic to the development of effective bactericidal immunity.

Keywords: bactericidal killing; Neisseria meningitidis

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]

Colin R. Tinsley, A. Munkley, M. Virji, J.E. Heckels. Blocking of bactericidal killing of Neisseria meningitidis by antibodies directed against class 4 outer membrane protein. Microbial Pathogenesis, 1991, 11 (6), p. 447-452. ⟨10.1016/0882-4010(91)90041-8⟩. ⟨hal-03665504⟩