Meningitis island - vaccine potential of an island of genes found only in epidemic strains of meningococcal bacteria
Research archive
- L' Université René Descartes, Paris, France
- Researchers:
Dr Colin Tinsley
- Project Number: 0203.0
- Category: Prevention
- Duration: 36 months
- Start Date: 01 January 2002
- Type: Lay summary
- View scientific version
Over the past five years, science has shown us that, while there are hundreds of different strains of meningococcal bacteria, only a few of them cause disease. Indeed, while some strains are responsible for epidemics, others are carried by a significant proportion of the population without ever causing disease.
Researchers conducting this new study have compared the genetic make-up of 50 strains, half of which were isolated from people who carried the bacteria without becoming ill, while the other half were isolated from people suffering severe meningococcal disease. They found that the chromosomes of all 50 strains were generally very similar, except for a cluster, or "island", of genes that is only found in disease-causing meningococcal bacteria.
In the current project, the researchers will investigate this cluster of genes and the proteins they code for to find out about their role in causing disease. They will then assess the purified proteins for potential use in a broadly protective meningococcal vaccine.
Results from this study have been published in a scientific journal as follows:
Bille E, Zahar JR, Perrin A, Morelle S, Kriz P, Jolley KA, Maiden MC, Dervin C, Nassif X, Tinsley CR.
A chromosomally integrated bacteriophage in invasive meningococci.
J Exp Med 2005 Jun 20;201(12):1905-13.
http://www.jem.org/cgi/reprint/201/12/1905.pdf