Bethell Delia, Pollard Andrew J
Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, UK.
Expert Rev Vaccines. 2002 Jun;1(1):75-84. doi: 10.1586/14760584.1.1.75.
The successful introduction of a protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccine against serogroup C meningococci into the UK infant immunization schedule, in combination with a catch-up campaign for individuals less than 18 years of age, has seen virtually all group C disease eliminated in childhood. From being a devastating disease with a very high mortality, the possibility of eradicating invasive meningococcal disease now seems eminently feasible. Since similar technology is likely to facilitate prevention of disease caused be serogroup A, Y and W135 meningococci, the major hurdle in achieving the goal of eradication is development of a safe and immunogenic vaccine against serogroup B infections. Outer membrane vesicle vaccines remain in development and further trials are anticipated. Through the recent availability of the meningococcal genome sequence, many new vaccine candidates are being identified and there is increasing optimism that a solution to the problem can be found.
一种针对C群脑膜炎球菌的蛋白质-多糖结合疫苗成功引入英国婴儿免疫计划，并针对18岁以下人群开展了补种活动，这使得儿童期的C群疾病几乎已被消除。侵袭性脑膜炎球菌病曾是一种死亡率极高的毁灭性疾病，现在看来根除它的可能性非常大。由于类似技术可能有助于预防A群、Y群和W135群脑膜炎球菌引起的疾病，实现根除目标的主要障碍是研发一种针对B群感染的安全且具有免疫原性的疫苗。外膜囊泡疫苗仍在研发中，预计将进行进一步试验。通过最近获得的脑膜炎球菌基因组序列，正在确定许多新的候选疫苗，人们越来越乐观地认为能够找到解决该问题的办法。
