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A common gene pool for the Neisseria FetA antigen

Julia S Bennett1, Emily A L Thompson, Paula Kriz

  • 1Department of Zoology, The Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. julia.bennett@zoo.ox.ac.uk

International Journal of Medical Microbiology : IJMM
|August 23, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Neisseria lactamica carriage may confer natural immunity against meningococcal disease. Studies found identical FetA protein sequences between commensal and pathogenic Neisseria, suggesting a shared gene pool and potential cross-protection.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Meningococcal FetA is an iron-regulated, immunogenic outer membrane protein and a key vaccine component.
  • The variable region (VR) of FetA is highly diverse and immunodominant, influencing immune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and sequence of the fetA gene in Neisseria lactamica isolates.
  • To compare the fetA VR sequences between commensal and pathogenic Neisseria species.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 275 Neisseria lactamica isolates from infant nasopharyngeal carriage studies.
  • Sequencing of the fetA variable region (VR) in 217 isolates.
  • Comparative sequence analysis of fetA VR against other Neisseria species.

Main Results:

  • The fetA gene was present in 217 N. lactamica isolates, with sequences absent in 58 isolates (mostly ST-624).
  • Identical fetA VR sequences were found in both commensal (N. lactamica) and pathogenic (N. meningitidis, N. gonorrhoeae) Neisseria.
  • This suggests a shared gene pool for the fetA antigen across Neisseria species.

Conclusions:

  • Carriage of N. lactamica expressing FetA may contribute to natural immunity against meningococcal disease.
  • The conserved nature of the fetA VR implies potential for cross-protective immunity.
  • FetA represents a promising target for broader Neisseria vaccine development.

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