THE 5C PROTEIN OF NEISSERIA-MENINGITIDIS IS HIGHLY IMMUNOGENIC IN HUMANS AND INDUCES BACTERICIDAL ANTIBODIES

The 5C protein is expressed by the strain of Neisseria meningitidis (44/76) used for production of the Norwegian meningococcal group B outer membrane vesicle vaccine and is included in the final formulation of this vaccine. The immunoglobulin G antibody response to 5C stimulated by vaccination, systemic meningococcal disease, and carriage was measured using ELISAs with synthetic liposomes as antigen and by immunoblotting. Increased levels of IgG were found in paired sera from all three groups. The antibodies were bactericidal to meningococci of sero-groups A and B that expressed large amounts of 5C but not to meningococci expressing smaller amounts. There was a linear correlation between bactericidal titer and units of IgG to 5C.