La vaccination contre les infections invasives à méningocoque

Abstract

AbstractInvasive meningococcal infections are rapidly progressive, potentially fatal and cause severe sequelae. The meningococcus is a capsulated bacterium, the composition of the capsule varies (which also determines the serogroups). Among the twelve serogroups of meningococcus, six are responsible for almost all cases but with a variable distribution worldwide and according to age. Current vaccines are prepared from capsular polysaccharide and are available against serogroup A, C, Y, and W strains. The capsular polysaccharide of meningococcus serogroup B is poorly immunogenic because of its similarity to the human neural cell adhesion molecule and cannot be used to develop a vaccine. Protein vaccines have been developed to target serogroup B strains and provide coverage for a large proportion of currently circulating strains of meningococcal B. Vaccine strategies must take into account the changing epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease.