Evaluation of the immune response in rabbits immunized intranasally with antigens of Neisseria meningitidis B selected for the immunotypes L3,7,9 or 8 with monoclonal antibodies

S. Ferraz, A.

Serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis is responsible for fulminant septcemia and it is a common cause of pyogenic meningitis. In addition to sporadic outbreaks, large epidemics of serogroup B meningococcal disease occur in many parts of the world. Therefore, the development of a vaccine against N.meningididis serogroup B remains a high priority worldwide. Unlike others serogroups to wich the capsular polysaccharides constitute efficacious vaccines, the serogroup B capsule is poorly immunogenic in humans. In modern vaccine development, strong emphasis has been laid on mucosal immunization system. In particular, the intranasal (i.n) holds promise for a potential induction of protective immune responses, since its able to elicit both local and strong systemic immune response. Intranasal vaccination may therefore be of particular interest against respiratory tract infections, such as those caused by N.meningitidis. Lipopolysaccharides(LPS) are complex molecules which are part of outer membrane, of Gram-negative bacteria. The advantage of mucosal immunization is that vaccines containing lipopolysaccharides may be delivered safely via mucosa route without causing adverse side effect seen in parental immunization. The New Zeland white rabbits was employed as model for representative by intranasal immunization in humans with regards to vaccine disposition. Immunizing with native outer mem