Vaccine potential of a novel meningococcal protein
Research archive
- Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
- Researchers:
Ala'Aldeen DA
- Project Number: 9931.0
- Category: Prevention
- Duration: 2001-2004
- Start Date: 01 January 2001
- Type: Lay summary
- View scientific version
This project aims to investigate the potential of a promising new Group B vaccine candidate, a bacterial protein called TspA.
TspA can be detected by our immune system, not just by the immune cells that make antibodies, but also by the cells that hold our immune system's memory (T-cells). This means it has the potential to provide strong, long-lasting immunity.
The protein is found in all sub-strains of Group B meningococcal bacteria, so if it can be developed as a vaccine, it could protect against all sub-strains circulating within the UK. This would overcome the limitations of existing Group B vaccine candidates.
In this research project TspA will be examined in detail for its value as a vaccine candidate on its own, or as a potent vaccine carrier to improve the effectiveness of existing vaccine candidates.
Results from this study have been published in scientific journals as follows:
Hadi HA, Wooldridge KG, Robinson K, Ala'Aldeen DA.
Identification and characterization of App: an immunogenic autotransporter protein of Neisseria meningitidis.
Mol Microbiol 2001 Aug;41(3):611-23.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1365-2958.2001.02516.x
Robinson K, Neal KR, Howard C, Stockton J, Atkinson K, Scarth E, Moran J, Robins A, Todd I, Kaczmarski E, Gray S, Ala'Aldeen DA.
Characterization of humoral and cellular immune responses elicited by meningococcal carriage.
Infect Immun 2002 Mar;70(3):1301-9.
http://iai.asm.org/cgi/reprint/70/3/1301.pdf
Robinson K, Wooldridge KG, Wells DB, Hasan A, Todd I, Robins A, James R, Ala'Aldeen DA.
T-cell-stimulating protein A elicits immune responses during meningococcal carriage and human disease.
Infect Immun 2005 Aug;73(8):4684-93.
http://iai.asm.org/cgi/reprint/73/8/4684.pdf
Oldfield NJ, Bland SJ, Taraktsoglou M, Dos Ramos FJ, Robinson K, Wooldridge KG, Ala'Aldeen DA,.
T-cell stimulating protein A (TspA) of Neisseria meningitidis is required for optimal adhesion to human cells.
Cell Microbiol 2007 Feb;9(2):463-78. Epub 2006 Sep 11.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1462-5822.2006.00803.x