ovalbumin and Meningitis--Meningococcal

Long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a non-redundant component of the humoral arm of innate immunity. The present study was designed to investigate the interaction of PTX3 with Neisseria meningitidis. PTX3 bound acapsular meningococcus, Neisseria-derived outer membrane vesicles (OMV) and 3 selected meningococcal antigens (GNA0667, GNA1030 and GNA2091). PTX3-recognized microbial moieties are conserved structures which fulfil essential microbial functions. Ptx3-deficient mice had a lower antibody response in vaccination protocols with OMV and co-administration of PTX3 increased the antibody response, particularly in Ptx3-deficient mice. Administration of PTX3 reduced the bacterial load in infant rats challenged with Neisseria meningitidis. These results suggest that PTX3 recognizes a set of conserved structures from Neisseria meningitidis and acts as an amplifier/endogenous adjuvant of responses to this bacterium.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Antibodies, Bacterial; Antigens, Bacterial; Bacterial Load; C-Reactive Protein; Female; Gene Expression; Immunity, Humoral; Immunity, Innate; Male; Meningitis, Meningococcal; Meningococcal Vaccines; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Neisseria meningitidis; Ovalbumin; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Serum Amyloid P-Component; Vaccination