New and Improved Vaccines Against Meningococcal Disease.
Abstract
Meningococcal disease in its various forms is caused by Neisseria meningitidis, an aerobic, gram-negative diplococcus. Its sole natural habitat is human mucosal membranes, primarily the nasopharynx, which it normally colonizes without causing disease. Virulent strains freshly isolated from the blood or cerebrospinal fluid are typically encapsulated, whereas throat isolates may or may not be encapsulated. The capsules are composed of anionic polysaccharides, which are the basis for classification of the species into serogroups. Twelve different serogroups are current recognized: A, B, C, 29E, H, I, K, L, W135, X, Y, and Z. The respective capsular polysaccharides (CP) have all been chemically and structurally defiled 1.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 17, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA330981
Entities
People
- Wendell D. Zollinger
Organizations
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research