Development of a glycoconjugate vaccine to prevent meningitis in Africa caused by meningococcal serogroup X
Micoli F., Romano MR., Tontini M., Cappelletti E., Gavini M., Proietti D., Rondini S., Swennen E., Santini L., Filippini S., Balocchi C., Adamo R., Pluschke G., Norheim G., Pollard A., Saul A., Rappuoli R., MacLennan CA., Berti F., Costantino P.
SignificanceMeningococcal serogroup X has recently emerged as a cause of meningitis outbreaks with epidemic potential in sub-Saharan Africa. Novel conjugation technologies, compatible with a reproducible production process, have been successfully used to develop immunogenic polysaccharide conjugate vaccine candidates that are likely to protect against meningococcal X disease. The timely development of an anti-meningococcal X conjugate vaccine appears a logical next step in the broadest control of meningococcal disease and requires commitment now.