MENINGOCOCCUS SEPTICEMIA.DEMONSTRATION OF THE MENINGOCOCCUS IN THE BLOOD SMEAR.

Meningococcus B

Between 13 different serogroups of N. meningitidis, identified according to the capsular polysaccharide’s antigenic structure, only 5 (A, B, C, W-135 and Y) are clinically relevant and responsible for 90% cases of meningococcal invasive disease. In Italy, serogroup B is the principal cause of invasive meningococcal disease [1]. There are two types of tetravalent vaccines for serogroups A, C, W-...

The meningococcus tamed?

Serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis is a frequent cause of invasive meningococcal disease, yet there are no effective vaccines suitable for routine immunisation. Limited efficacy has been shown with meningococcal outer membrane vacccines in children 4 years and older. Here we review the status of current research and consider new approaches to development of meningococcal serogroup B vaccines.

Growth Requirements of the Meningococcus.

Studies on Meningococcus Infection

Precipitin tests, carried out on the cerebrospinal fluid from cases of meningococcal meningitis with monovalent sera, demonstrate the presence in that fluid of type-specific precipitinogens of the meningococcus. Negative results are secured when the spinal fluid is obtained after the commencement of intrathecal serum treatment and also occasionally when the numbers of infecting organisms are ve...

Human Immunity to the Meningococcus

Purified meningococcal polysaccharides were administered to army recruits. No adverse reactions were observed in 145 men who received group C polysaccharide, and in 53 men who were injected with group A polysaccharide. Hemagglutinating and bactericidal activity developed in the sera of all individuals with the exception of two recruits injected with A polysaccharide. During the 6 wk period of o...