Accession Number:

ADA330981

Title:

New and Improved Vaccines Against Meningococcal Disease.

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

WALTER REED ARMY INST OF RESEARCH WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Zollinger, Wendell D.

Report Date:

1997-04-17

Pagination or Media Count:

23.0

Abstract:

Meningococcal disease in its various forms is caused by Neisseria meningitidis, an aerobic, gram-negative diplococcus. Its sole natural habitat is human mucosal membranes, primarily the nasopharynx, which it normally colonizes without causing disease. Virulent strains freshly isolated from the blood or cerebrospinal fluid are typically encapsulated, whereas throat isolates may or may not be encapsulated. The capsules are composed of anionic polysaccharides, which are the basis for classification of the species into serogroups. Twelve different serogroups are current recognized A, B, C, 29E, H, I, K, L, W135, X, Y, and Z. The respective capsular polysaccharides CP have all been chemically and structurally defiled 1.

Descriptors:

• *VACCINES
• *MENINGITIS
• REPRINTS
• HUMANS
• POLYSACCHARIDES
• STRAINS(BIOLOGY)
• HABITATS
• MUCOUS MEMBRANES
• GRAM NEGATIVE BACTERIA
• BLOOD GASES
• THROAT
• NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS
• CEREBROSPINAL FLUID
• DIPLOCOCCUS
• LOW VIRULENCE

Subject Categories:

• Medicine and Medical Research

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE