Fighting Neisseria meningitidis: past and current vaccination strategies

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Neisseria meningitidis infections represent a serious health problem that can lead to invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), a life-threatening condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. IMD could however be preventable via vaccination. During the past five decades, vaccines against N. meningitidis capsular groups A, C, W and Y were introduced into the market. Recently, group B vaccines based on N. meninigitidis recombinant antigens and outer membrane vesicles have been developed and novel vaccine candidates are under evaluation.

Areas covered: In this review we discuss the main meningococcal vaccines available, with focus on immunogenicity data, vaccination impact on disease burden and persistence of vaccine-induced immune response. Preliminary results on new vaccine formulations, potentially able to provide multi-group coverage, are also reported.

Expert commentary: Continuous surveillance and optimization of national immunization programs are required in order not only to promptly fight future outbreaks but also to identify possible changes in N. meningitidis epidemiology.

KEYWORDS:

• Neisseria meningitidis
• invasive meningococcal disease
• outbreak control
• meningococcal vaccines
• surveillance

Declaration of interests

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.