Protection against group B meningococcal infection was examined using the chick embryo. 12-day-old embryos were challenged intravenously with various meningococcal strains. The chick embryo has an active reticuloendothelial system but lacks functional complement. In this model we found that protection against group B infection was primarily group specific. The group B polysaccharide antibody is an effective opsonin, but is a very poor bactericidal antibody. In contrast, the serotype antibody was bactericidal but only slightly protective in the chick embryo where protection is primarily phagocytic in nature. The group-specific and type-specific antibodies are strongly synergistic. Minute amounts of group B polysaccharide antibody caused a very significant increase in the protective effects of the serotype antibody.
Article|
August 01 1976
Protection against group B meningococcal disease. I. Comparison of group-specific and type-specific protection in the chick embryo model.
C E Frasch
L Parkes
R M McNelis
E C Gotschlich
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1976) 144 (2): 319–329.
Citation
C E Frasch, L Parkes, R M McNelis, E C Gotschlich; Protection against group B meningococcal disease. I. Comparison of group-specific and type-specific protection in the chick embryo model.. J Exp Med 1 August 1976; 144 (2): 319–329. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.144.2.319
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