4CMenB Immunization Induces Serum Bactericidal Antibodies Against Non-Serogroup B Meningococcal Strains in...

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Vaccinology
• Public Health

Background:

• Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) poses a significant public health challenge, particularly in developed nations.
• Serogroup B (MenB) is the primary cause of IMD in developed countries.
• Two MenB vaccines, 4CMenB and MenB-FHbp, are available; 4CMenB antigens are found in other meningococcal serogroups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of the four-component serogroup B meningococcal vaccine (4CMenB) in protecting adolescents against non-MenB invasive meningococcal disease (IMD).
• To evaluate the bactericidal activity of sera from adolescents vaccinated with 4CMenB against a panel of non-MenB IMD isolates.

Main Methods:

• A serum bactericidal antibody assay using human complement (hSBA) was employed.
• Sera from adolescents vaccinated with 4CMenB (two doses) and a MenACWY conjugate vaccine (positive control) were tested.
• The assay evaluated bactericidal activity against 147 non-MenB invasive meningococcal disease isolates (127 European, 20 Brazilian).

Main Results:

• Pre-vaccination sera showed minimal killing activity (7.5%) against non-MenB isolates.
• Post-vaccination sera from 4CMenB recipients demonstrated significant bactericidal activity.
• Specifically, 61.9% of tested non-MenB isolates were killed, including 55.0% of MenC, 74.3% of MenW, and 65.6% of MenY isolates.

Conclusions:

• Adolescent vaccination with 4CMenB induces bactericidal antibodies effective against non-MenB meningococcal isolates.
• These findings suggest that widespread 4CMenB vaccination could potentially reduce the burden of IMD caused by serogroups beyond MenB.