Cloning, expression and characterization of the P64k outer membrane protein from N. meningitidis

Meningococcal meningitis as an endemic disease occurs with a frequency of approximately 0.5-5 per 100 000 per year in a great part of the world. Epidemic disease has been reported from all continents in the last few years. The serogroups A, B and C are the main cause of the disease. The group B N. meningitidis polysaccharide (PS) in contrast to group A, C, and others is a poor immunogen in humans due to immunological tolerance and structural similarities that have been found in developing fetal brain tissue. Therefore, the strategy of vaccine against serogroup B should be based in strains of N. meningitidis, could be an effective approach to confer protection against meningococcal disease in humans.