Appearance of new strains associated with group B meningococcal disease and their use for rapid vaccine development

There has been a decrease in the prevalence of disease in the United States due to meningococcal serotypes 2a and 2b containing class 2 proteins with a concomitant increase in nonserotypable strains containing class 3 major outer membrane proteins. A new disease associated strain was identified using monoclonal antibodies as B:4:P1.15. Serotype 4 strains have been heretofore isolated almost only from carriers. This B:4:P1.15 strain predominated among group B disease isolates in Cuba from the late 1970s to the present and among Miami, Florida isolates recovered in 1981 and 1982. To determine whether protein vaccines for new strains or serotypes could be prepared using our present methods, a combined vaccine was prepared from a group B strain (B:8:P1.15) recovered during a recent outbreak in Virginia, and a serotype 2b strain, plus group C polysaccharide. The vaccine was prepared with aluminum hydroxide, or with trehalose dimycolate plus monophosphoryl lipid A, or without adjuvant. Four weeks after immunization antibody levels were much higher in mice that received vaccine containing adjuvant.