层析法提纯A、C、Y、W135群脑膜炎球菌荚膜多糖工艺的建立

目的 建立A、C、Y、W135群脑膜炎球菌荚膜多糖层析纯化工艺。方法 采用陶瓷羟基磷灰石和DEAE Sepharose FF层析柱，在PBS体系中纯化A群多糖。以0.5%脱氧胆酸钠预处理C群多糖，用陶瓷羟基磷灰石层析柱在PBS体系中纯化C群多糖。以含有脱氧胆酸钠的平衡缓冲液溶解Y和W135群多糖，再用Capto Adhere和Capto DEAE层析柱串联纯化。纯化的多糖经Sephadex G-25 Medium层析柱脱盐后冻干，按中国药典2015年版三部的要求进行检定。结果  经过层析纯化，A、C、Y、W135群多糖的蛋白质含量分别降至3.7、4.2、5.4和5.3 mg/g，核酸含量分别降至1.2、3.0、1.1和0.8 mg/g，均符合药典要求。此外，磷、唾液酸和O-乙酰基含量等指标亦均符合药典标准。结论 建立了A、C、Y、W135群脑膜炎球菌荚膜多糖的层析纯化工艺。     

Recombinant protein meningococcal serogroup B vaccine combined with outer membrane vesicles

Introduction: Meningococcal infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Infection with Neisseria meningitidis is most common in young children, teenagers and people with certain medical conditions. Effective polysaccharide and glycoconjugate vaccines for serogroups A, C, W135 and Y have been developed. A similar capsular polysaccharide approach for serogroup B (MenB) has by most been judged as unsuitable, hence, no broad coverage vaccine has been licensed to date. The novel vaccine Bexsero (previously 4CMenB) has been developed and proven safe and immunogenic in clinical trials.

Areas covered: The authors outline the constituents of Bexsero and immunogenicity and safety data from preclinical and clinical trials published in peer-reviewed literature, meeting proceedings and publicly-available clinical trial websites from 2000 to 2010.

Expert opinion: Bexsero is well tolerated with a proven safety profile, and has demonstrated a robust immune response across different age groups against a range of diverse MenB strains. These data suggest that Bexsero has the ability to provide protection in infants, who are at the greatest risk of developing meningococcal disease.     

Epidemiological patterns of meningococcal meningitis in Niger in 2003 and 2004: under the threat of N. meningitidis serogroup W135

Since the Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W135 epidemic in Burkina Faso in 2002, the neighbouring countries dread undergoing outbreaks. Niger has strongly enhanced the microbiological surveillance, especially by adding the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to the national framework of the surveillance system. During the 2003 epidemic season, 8113 clinically suspected cases of meningitis were notified and nine districts of the 42 crossed the epidemic threshold, while during the 2004 season, the number of cases was 3521 and four districts notified epidemics. In 2003 and 2004, serogroup A was identified in most N. meningitidis from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens (89.7% of 759 and 87.2% of 406, respectively). Although serogroup W135 represented only 8.3% of the meningococcal meningitis in 2003 and 7.9% in 2004, and was not involved in outbreaks, it was widespread in various areas of the country. In the regions that notified epidemics, the proportion of serogroup W135 was tiny while it exceeded 40% in several non-epidemic regions. Despite the wide distribution of W135 serogroup in Niger and the fears expressed in 2001, the threat of a large epidemic caused by N. meningitidis W135 seems to have been averted in Niger so far. There is no clear indication whether this serogroup will play a lasting role in the epidemiology of meningococcal meningitis or not. As early as in the 1990s, a significant but transient increase in the incidence of N. meningitidis serogroup X was observed. Close microbiological surveillance is crucial for monitoring the threat and for identifying at the earliest the serogroups involved in epidemics.     

Treatment strategies for central nervous system infections: an update

Introduction: Central nervous system infection continues to be an important cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Our incomplete knowledge on the pathogenesis of how meningitis-causing pathogens cause CNS infection and emergence of antimicrobial resistance has contributed to the mortality and morbidity. An early empiric antibiotic treatment is critical for the management of patients with bacterial meningitis, but early recognition of bacterial meningitis continues to be a challenge.

Areas covered: This review gives an overview on current therapeutic strategies for CNS infection with a focus on recent literature since 2010 on bacterial meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency, requiring early recognition and treatment. The selection of appropriate empiric antimicrobial regimen, after incorporating the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis, impact of vaccination, emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, role of adjunctive therapy and the current knowledge on the pathogenesis of meningitis and associated neuronal injury are covered.

Expert opinion: Prompt treatment of bacterial meningitis with an appropriate antibiotic is essential. Optimal antimicrobial treatment of bacterial meningitis requires bactericidal agents able to penetrate the blood–brain barrier, with efficacy in cerebrospinal fluid. Emergence of CNS-infecting pathogens with resistance to conventional antibiotics has been increasingly recognized, but development of new antibiotics has been limited. More complete understanding of the microbial and host factors that are involved in the pathogenesis of bacterial meningitis and associated neurologic sequelae is likely to help in developing new strategies for the prevention and therapy of bacterial meningitis.     

Sequence Type 4821 Clonal Complex Serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis in China, 1978–2013

Serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis strains belonging to sequence type 4821 clonal complex (CC4821), a hyperinvasive lineage first identified for serogroup C in 2003, have been increasingly isolated in China. We characterized the outer membrane protein genes of 48 serogroup B and 214 serogroup C strains belonging to CC4821 and analyzed the genomic sequences of 22 strains. Four serogroup B strains had porin A (i.e., PorA), PorB, and ferric enterobactin transport (i.e., FetA) genotypes identical to those for serogroup C. Phylogenetic analysis of the genomic sequences showed that the 22 CC4821 strains from patients and healthy carriers were unevenly clustered into 2 closely related groups; each group contained serogroup B and C strains. Serogroup B strains appeared variable at the capsule locus, and several recombination events had occurred at uncertain breakpoints. These findings suggest that CC4821 serogroup C N. meningitidis is the probable origin of highly pathogenic CC4821 serogroup B strains.     

Outbreaks of serogroup X meningococcal meningitis in Niger 1995-2000

In the African meningitis belt, the recurrent meningococcal meningitis epidemics are generally caused by serogroup A. In the past 20 years, other serogroups have been detected, such as X or W135, which have caused sporadic cases or clusters. We report here 134 meningitis cases caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup X that occurred in Niamey between 1995 and 2000. They represented 3.91% of the meningococcal isolates from all CSF samples, whereas 94.4% were of serogroup A. Meningococcal meningitis cases were detected using the framework of the routine surveillance system for reportable diseases organized by the Ministry of Public Health of Niger. The strains were isolated and determined by the reference laboratory for meningitis in Niamey (CERMES) and further typed at the WHO collaborating center of the Pharo in Marseille and at the National Reference Center for the Meningococci at the Institut Pasteur. Reference laboratories in Marseille and Paris characterized 47 isolates having the antigenic formula (serogroup:serotype:sero-subtype) X:NT:P1.5. Meningitis cases due to meningococcus serogroup X did not present any clinical or epidemiological differences to those due to serogroup A. The seasonal incidence was classical; 93.3% of the cases were recorded during the dry season. The mean age of patients was 9.2 years (+/- 6 years). The sex ratio M/F was 1.3. Case fatality rate was 11.9% without any difference related to age or sex. The increasing incidence of the serogroup X was not related to the decrease of serogroup A, but seemed cyclic, and evolved independently of the recurrence of both serogroups A and C.     

2006～2010年湖北省流行性脑脊髓膜炎病原学和血清学监测分析

目的分析湖北省2006～2010年流行性脑脊髓膜炎(流脑)病原学和血清学监测结果,掌握湖北省流脑的变迁规律。方法对2006～2010年分离的脑膜炎奈瑟菌(Nm)菌株进行生化鉴定、血清学分型和药物敏感性检测,并采用多位点序列分型(MLST)和脉冲场凝胶电泳(PFGE)方法进行分子分型;对所有的脑脊液和血液标本进行Nm种属特异性荧光PCR检测;对健康人群血清,运用血清杀菌试验(SBA)进行C群杀菌力抗体水平测定。结果 2007年湖北省Nm以B群为主,2008～2010年以来C群为优势菌群;对青霉素等6种抗生素均敏感,但对环丙沙星、米诺环素、萘啶酸、复方新诺明4种抗生素出现多重耐药;分子分型结果显示,湖北省B群Nm菌株具有高度的遗传多样性,未发现明显优势的克隆群,C群优势病原株为ST-4821型。RT-PCR检测(988份脑脊液)确诊29例流脑病例,其中C群22例,A群2例、B群5例。C群杀菌力总保护率(抗体滴度≥1︰8)为38.10%。结论湖北省流脑菌株发生了从B群散发到C群流行的变迁,人群对C群Nm的免疫力不足。     

Safety,tolerability and immunogenicity of intramuscular administration of PRP-CRM197 Hib vaccine to healthy Japanese children: An open-label trial

BackgroundJapan licensed the conjugate Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine, Vaxem™ Hib, based on clinical studies using subcutaneous injection. The present study was performed to ensure this vaccine is suitable for intramuscular injection in Japanese children.MethodsThirty-one healthy 2–6-month-old infants received three doses of Vaxem™ Hib by intramuscular injection at 4-week intervals and a booster dose 1 year later, concomitant with routine infant (DTaP-IPV and pneumococcal) and toddler (measles–rubella) vaccines. Immunogenicity was assessed before and after the primary series and booster dose by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-polyribosyl-ribitol-phosphate (PRP) antibodies. Safety was assessed by medical examination and diary cards completed by the subjects’ parents/legal guardians.ResultsThere were no vaccine-related serious adverse events or withdrawals; all children completed the study. Four weeks after the primary series, the geometric mean anti-PRP titer (GMT) was 19.68 μg/mL, and all children had seroprotective titers (≥0.15 μg/mL) that persisted until the booster dose. Proportions of titers indicative of long-term protection (≥1.0 μg/mL) were 100% after the primary series and 77.4% before the booster. Anamnestic responses to the booster had a GMT of 51.33 μg/mL, and 100% had titers ≥1.0 μg/mL. All but one subject reported injection site reactions as resolved within 3 days of vaccination; systemic reactions due to Hib and routine vaccines were also resolved within this period.ConclusionsVaxem™ Hib was generally well tolerated and immunogenic in Japanese children when administered by intramuscular injection in a three-dose primary series and as a booster with concomitant routine vaccines.Clinical trial registry: Registered on Clinical Trials.gov: NCT02074345.     

Detection of resistance to rifampicin and decreased susceptibility to penicillin in Neisseria meningitidis by real-time multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay

In this study, we designed primers and probes for the rpoB gene of Neisseria meningitidis to detect rifampicin-resistant strains in a combined use with primers and probes previously described for penicillin intermediate isolates. The assay was set up in the Light Cycler instrument using the Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer platform. The method was applied to N. meningitidis strains and to culture-negative cerebrospinal fluids (CSFs) from patients with meningococcal invasive disease. A spiked CSF was used to determine the sensitivity of the assay.