Development of a second generation group B meningococcal vaccine.

Outer membrane protein vaccines have now been demonstrated to be effective in prevention of group B Neisseria meningitidis disease, but the extent and duration of protection needs improvement. To develop a second generation outer membrane protein vaccine we have begun studies to evaluate vaccines containing iron regulated proteins in lipopolysaccharide depleted outer membrane vesicles. Since the iron regulated proteins are critical for in vivo survival, it is our working hypothesis that antibodies to these proteins will either be bactericidal or block iron uptake. Four representative strains were selected, and preliminary studies indicate that vaccines containing the iron regulated proteins are immunogenic in mice.