Neisseria vaccine experts meeting in Cuba to assess the state-of-the art of meningococcal vaccines
R. Silva , E. López Mola .
Havana - April 27. An Expert Meeting sponsored by the CIGB and the Finlay Institute took place from April 15-20, 2007 in Varadero , Cuba . The meeting was the focal point of gathering of a significant representation of 37 highly profile researchers coming from 16 different countries, being Cuba and UK the main contributors to the magnificent attendance attained. The event covered essential areas of vaccine development against meningococcal disease, one of the most active research areas at the CIGB. Aspects like Neisseria population structure, new vaccine candidates, and contribution of novel technologies of proteomics, bioinformatics, and system biology were discussed at large.
The global impact of infections due to Neisseria meningitidis, and the lack of a protective vaccine against serogroup B disease , has prompted the scientific community to develop a preventive universal vaccine against this deadly pathogen.
While promising recombinant vaccines candidates are under evaluation, several issues must be taken into account for the development of a successful anti-meningococcal vaccine. In this direction, however, the Cuban experience gave essential clues. From the research point of view, issues like the study of probable vaccine failures and the associated questions on host susceptibilities, the rapid evolution of antigenic types amongst meningococcal populations after vaccine introduction , the impact of minor OMV components in the induction of a significant immune response in humans, the exploration of new ways for the identification of vaccine candidates like Expression Library Immunization (ELI), must not be overlooked and are firmly in place in Cuban research plans.
At the CIGB's Meningococcal Research Department, application of 2DE-MS and SCAPE technology to different OMV preparations, including three different batches of Cuban VA-MENGOC-BC® OMVs, resulted in the identification of 44 new membrane proteins. Seven of these proteins joined a total of 26 additional proteins in silico predicted to be outer-membrane beta-barrels, and together with putative candidates coming from the pioneering application of ELI into Neisserial research, formed a grand total of 47 identified genes that were in turn cloned and expressed in E. coli, and their respective protein products were tested as vaccine candidates. Four of these proteins were able to induce a protective immune response against homologous and heterologous strains as measured by the reduction of bacteraemia in neonatal mice and in infant rat models, and induced cross-reactive antibodies that were able to recognize a wide range of heterologous strains.
Cuba is involved in an intense effort to develop better preventive vaccines against meningococcal disease. As a part of the National Immunization Program newborns are immunized against 13 different diseases during the first year of life, reflecting the strong commitment our State and society have with the fight against preventable diseases. In this context, the development of a new, safer, and more universal vaccine against meningococcus is not only of paramount importance for the Cuban childhood, but for millions of people living in the African meningitis belt, where this vaccine is very much needed.
The CIGB is looking for partnership in research and development to speed up its Business Portfolio, involving 20 biomedical and agriculture projects (http://gndp.cigb.edu.cu ), to facilitate the access to the medical community, companies and research institutions to the most up to date R&D advances at the CIGB.
For information: http://gndp.cigb.edu.cu
Contact person: ernesto.lopez@cigb.edu.cu
Phone: (53-7) 2712397. |
