Immunogenicity of the meningococcal stress protein MSP63 during natural infection

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology 1993-09, Vol.93 (3), p.377-381
• Main Authors: PANNEKOEK, Y., SCHUURMAN, I. G. A., DANKERT, J., PUTTEN, J. P. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antibodies, Bacterial - biosynthesis; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial Proteins - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Escherichia coli; GroEL; Heat-Shock Proteins - immunology; hsp60; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; IgG response; Immunoglobulin G - biosynthesis; Infant; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; meningococcal disease; Meningococcal Infections - immunology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Mycobacterium; Neisseria; Neisseria meningitidis; Neisseria meningitidis - immunology; Neisseria meningitldis; Staphylococcal infections, streptococcal infections, pneumococcal infections
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1993.tb08188.x

SUMMARY Acute‐ and convalesccnt‐phasc sera from 40 patients with meningococcal disease were evaluated for immunorcactivity with the meningococcal member of the hsp60 stress protein family. The IgG response was measured by ELISA, using bacterial cell lysate of the corresponding patients' strain, and purified hsp60 proteins from Neisseria meningitldis (MSP63), Escherichia coli (GroEL) and Mycobacterium bemis BCG (65K.) as antigens. Analysis of the antibody responses revealed that 24/35 patients (69%) with elevated anti‐meningococcal titres. generated anti‐MSP63 antibodies during the time course of infection. Twelve of these patients generated antibodies specific for MSP63. in six patients anti‐MSP63 levels exceeded anli‐GroEL/65K antibodies. In the remaining six patients, equal levels of anti‐MSP63 and anti‐GroEL/65K were measured. We conclude that MSP63 is expressed and immunogenic during natural meningococcal infection, and that individual subjects have a restricted response to the antigen, resulting in the recognition of Neisseria‐sp hsp60 epitopes and/or cross‐reactive hsp60 determinants.