Heyderman R¹, Williams N², Cartwright K³, Borrow R⁴

Analysis of mucosal immunity to Neisseria meningitidis after serogroup B vaccination

Prevention of Meningitis or Septicaemia (blood poisoning) caused by meningococcus group B (MenB) through vaccination is an important priority. Research from national “meningitis” vaccine programmes against MenC, Hib and Streptococcus pneumoniae show us that their success is in part due to their ability to protect both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated, so-called herd immunity. This protection probably occurs by reducing carriage of these meningitis bacteria in the back of the throat (mucosal immunity). How this happens is poorly understood but research in Bristol shows that naturally acquired immunity (transient contact between the immune system and the meningococcus in the back of the throat without causing disease) may impact on this process. To understand how this natural immunity is affected by a new MenB vaccine, funded by the Meningitis Trust, Professor Heyderman and colleagues have vaccinated a group of adult volunteers. The results will be presented at a major international meeting in September and published soon afterwards. The work has led to two new studies of MenB vaccination in Bristol.

¹ Professor of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Bristol
² Professor of Immunology, University of Bristol
³ Health Protection Agency South West, Stonehouse
⁴ Group Leader, Vaccine Evaluation Department, Health Protection Agency Northwest, Manchester

September 2006