Proteomic analysis of a meningococcal outer membrane vesicle vaccine prepared from the group B strain NZ98/254

In the absence of a suitable carbohydrate‐based vaccine, outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccines have been used to disrupt outbreaks of serogroup B meningococcal disease for more than 20 years. Proteomic technology provides physical methods with the potential to assess the composition and consistency of these complex vaccines. 2‐DE, combined with MS, were used to generate a proteome map of an OMV vaccine, developed to disrupt a long‐running outbreak of group B disease in New Zealand. Seventy four spots from the protein map were identified including the outer membrane protein (OMP) antigens: PorA, PorB, RmpM and OpcA. Protein identification indicates that, in addition to OMPs, OMV vaccines contain periplasmic, membrane‐associated and cytoplasmic proteins. 2‐D‐DIGE technology highlighted differences between preclinical development batches of vaccines from two different manufacturers.