Development of antibodies to meningococcal protein and lipopolysaccharide serotype antigens in healthy-carriers.

The nasopharyngeal acquisition of meningococci was followed in healthy military recruits during their primary training. The production of antibodies to meningococcal serotype protein antigens and serotype lipopolysaccharide antigens accompanied the carrier state. Bactericidal antibody to protein serotype 2 was generated in response to the carriage of meningococci of low virulence that carried this antigen.