156 research outputs found
Laboratory Predictors of Meningococcal Disease And Vaccination in Children: studies on the host immune response against Neisseria meningitidis
No full text__Abstract__
Neisseria meningitidis is a gram-negative diplococcus which was first identified by
Anton Weichselbaum in 1887. Strains of N. meningitidis can be classified into
serogroups based upon the different composition of its capsular polysaccharide.
Thirteen serogroups have been identified, of which serogroups A, B, C, W135 and Y
are responsible for invasive disease. Additional subclassification is based on the
variability of two outer membrane proteins: PorB and PorA. Antigenic variation in PorB
is responsible for classification of meningococci into serotypes, whereas PorA is
responsible for serosubtyping (www.neisseria.org/nm/typing). The outer membrane of
N. meningitidis also contains lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The variability of the core
structure of LPS is the basis of classification of N. meningitidis into at least 12 different
immunotypes.
N. meningitidis is an exclusively human pathogen and asymptomatic nasopharyngeal
carriage among the population is approximately 7-17%. The carriage rate increases
up to 45% when estimated by the culture of tonsillar tissue harvested on
tonsillectomy
Bench-to-bedside review: genetic influences on meningococcal disease
Get PDFThis review discusses the possible involvement of a variety of genetic
polymorphisms on the course of meningococcal disease. It has been shown
that several common genetic polymorphisms can either influence the
susceptibility to meningococcal disease or can account for a higher
mortality rate in patients. Gene polymorphisms concerning antibody
receptors, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding receptors or proteins, innate
complement proteins as well as cytokines and hemostatic proteins are
described. The study of genetic polymorphisms might provide important
insights in the pathogenesis of meningococcal disease and could make it
possible to identify individuals who are at risk of either contracting or
dying from meningococcal disease
Recent developments in vaccines to prevent meningococcal serogroup B infections.
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Polymorphisms in PARP, IL1B, IL4, IL10, C11NH, DEFB1 and DEFA4 in meningococcal disease in three populations.
No full textObjective: the pathogenesis of meningococcal infections involves activation of the complement system, pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators, antimicrobial peptides and apoptosis. We hypothesized that variations in genes encoding these products are involved in the susceptibility to and severity of pediatric meningococcal infections.Study design: polymorphisms in PARP, C1INH, IL4, IL10 and IL1B, DEFA4 and DEFB1 were analyzed in two independent Caucasian case control cohorts from the UK and the Netherlands and in a family based TDT cohort from the UKResults: in the UK case control cohort the DEFB1 -44 G/G homozygous genotype was overrepresented in patients with meningococcal disease compared to the G/C and C/C genotypes when combined (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.12-2.20). The TDT analysis did not confirm this, but did find an association and linkage of the IL4 -524 and the C1INH 480 polymorphisms with susceptibility to meningococcal infection. Hematological failure was present more often in UK patients with the DEFB1 -44 G/G genotype compared to the C allele carriers (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.22-3.85).Conclusions: additional studies are necessary to elucidate the conflicting results obtained for the DEFB1, IL4 and C1INH polymorphisms and their role in susceptibility to and severity of meningococcal diseas
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