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Mechanisms of avoidance of host immunity by Neisseria meningitidis and its effect on vaccine development

Helena Lo1, Christoph M Tang, Rachel M Exley

  • 1Centre for Molecular Microbiology and Infection, Department of Microbiology, Imperial College London, London, UK.

The Lancet. Infectious Diseases
|June 27, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Neisseria meningitidis causes severe sepsis and meningitis by evading the human immune system. New vaccines show promise for preventing serogroup B disease, a significant challenge in meningococcal vaccine development.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Neisseria meningitidis is a significant global cause of sepsis and meningitis.
  • This bacterium continuously interacts with the human immune system, employing various evasion strategies.
  • Existing vaccines offer protection only against specific meningococcal strains.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To understand the immune evasion mechanisms of Neisseria meningitidis.
  • To address challenges in designing vaccines against meningococcal serogroup B.
  • To evaluate the potential of novel vaccines against endemic serogroup B disease.

Main Methods:

  • The study reviews bacterial immune evasion strategies, including molecular mimicry by capsule and lipopolysaccharide.
  • It examines the limitations of current meningococcal vaccines.
  • It discusses ongoing clinical trials for new vaccine candidates.

Main Results:

  • Neisseria meningitidis utilizes mechanisms like molecular mimicry to evade immune responses.
  • Current vaccines do not cover all meningococcal strains, particularly serogroup B.
  • Promising new vaccines are in clinical trials for serogroup B disease.

Conclusions:

  • Further research into Neisseria meningitidis immune evasion is crucial.
  • Developing effective vaccines against serogroup B remains a priority.
  • Emerging vaccines offer hope for controlling endemic serogroup B meningococcal disease.

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