Antibody and memory CD4+ T-cell responses after meningococcal disease

Abstract

Currently, Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C (MenC) is the major cause of bacterial meningitis in Brazil, affecting mainly teenagers and adults due to the lack of routine public vaccination of these age groups. The goal of this study was to investigate the bactericidal antibody response and the development of CD4(+) T cell memory during the convalescent phase of patients infected with N. menigitidis. Most (85.7%) of the patients developed a protective antibody response against MenC and 57% also responded to N. meningitidis serogroup B. We detected a significant CD4(+) T central memory (TCM) response to meningococcal outer membrane proteins.

How the Knowledge of Interactions between Meningococcus and the Human Immune System Has Been Used to Prepare EffectiveNeisseria meningitidisVaccines

“…During convalescence, an age-associated Th response can be observed: specifically, a Th1 response (low IL-10/IFN- γ ratio) and a highly proliferative Th2 response (higher IL-10/IFN- γ ratio) can be detected in younger and older patients, respectively [ 245 ]. Generally, a significant CD4+ T central memory response, with serum bactericidal antibodies, a marker of protective immunity, can be found [ 246 ]. However, the above-mentioned age-related mucosal T effector/memory cell response may also be present without bactericidal antibodies [ 247 ].…”