Abstract

CABRERA, Osmir et al. Size fragmentation of Neisseria meningitidis grupo C polysaccharide for their use in conjugated vaccine. Vaccimonitor [online]. 2001, vol.10, n.4, pp.1-6. ISSN 1025-028X.

Meningococcal infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Serogroups B and C strains are responsible for most cases in the developed world. Meningococcal vaccines containing purified serogroup C capsular polysaccharide induce protective serum bactericidal antibodies in adults, but are poorly immunogenic in young children and may induce tolerance. The immunogenicity of polysaccharide or its fragments can be improved by conjugation to a protein carrier. In this study the purified meningococcal C polysaccharide (Ps-C) was depolimerized by acid hydrolysis, heat and sodium peryodate, to obtain oligosaccharides (Os-C) and it was evaluated the integrity of their antigenic properties by inhibition ELISA. The molecular size was determined by gel filtration and the loss of O-acetyl groups was evaluated. Significant differences between the molecular size of the OS-C and the values of O-acetyls were obtained by different depolimerization method. The antigenic properties were dependent on the molecular size and the O-acetyls groups. Oligosaccharides obtained by acid hydrolysis showed the same antigenic properties as PS-C.

Keywords : Neisseria meningitidis; oligosaccharides; hydrolysis.

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