Meningitis and Meningococcal Polysaccharide

Meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis is an acute, life-threatening inflammatory disease. It is reported that the mortality rate of the disease is as high as 50% if left untreated and more than 10% of patients may leave serious sequelae, such as deafness and limb loss. The risk of meningitis is higher for infants younger than 2 years, adolescents between the ages of 16~21, and people with asplenia or complement deficiency.

Studies have found that meningococcal capsular polysaccharides can be used to prevent meningitis disease. Based on the composition of the capsular polysaccharide, at least 12 different N. meningitidis serogroups have been identified, of which serogroups A, B, C, W, X, and Y cause disease. The capsule of N. meningitidis serogroups B, C, Y, and W-135 consists of polysialic acid or sialic acid linked to glucose or galactose, while the capsule of serogroup A consists of N-acetylmannosamine-1-phosphoric acid composition.

Fig.1 Structure of meningococcal polysaccharides A and C. (Hussein, et al., 2016)

Meningococcal Polysaccharide Antigen Production Service at CD BioGlyco

Conjugating meningococcal polysaccharides with carrier proteins is important not only for the prevention of meningitis disease but also for improving immunogenicity and inducing memory responses in infants and young children. At CD BioGlyco, we have developed a One-stop Polysaccharide Conjugation Solution, providing Carrier Protein Design and Polysaccharide Antigen Production services. We provide our clients with high-quality conjugation services of meningococcal A, C, Y, and W-135 polysaccharides with carrier proteins such as tetanus toxoid (TT), diphtheria toxoid (DT), the non-toxic CRM197 variant of diphtheria toxin, a complex outer-membrane protein (OMP) mixture from N. meningitidis, and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae-derived protein D. Our process is as follows:

• Preparation of meningococcal polysaccharide-carrier protein conjugation.
• Quantitative analysis of meningococcal polysaccharide: determine the total meningococcal polysaccharide and carrier protein content in the final conjugate to calculate the ratio of meningococcal polysaccharide to carrier protein.
• High-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) determination: determine the purity of meningococcal polysaccharide-carrier protein conjugates by HPSEC.
• Native agarose gel electrophoresis analysis: characterize meningococcal polysaccharide-carrier protein conjugates by native agarose gel electrophoresis

With repeated administration of complex carbohydrate vaccines, vector-related immune interference, including carrier-induced epitope suppression (CIES), often occurs. Therefore, we also provide other novel carrier proteins such as hepatitis B core antigen virus-like particles (HBc VLPs) glycoconjugates development service for our global client.

Fig.2 Flowchart of polysaccharide vaccine development. (CD BioGlyco)

Advantages of Us

• One-stop solution for polysaccharide conjugation
• Conjugation service of multiple serotypes of meningococcal polysaccharides such as A, C, Y, and W-135 to carrier proteins
• Conjugation service of meningococcal polysaccharide to various carrier proteins such as TT, DT, CRM197, and OMP
• HPSEC purity determination and native agarose gel electrophoresis analysis services for the conjugates

After years of research, CD BioGlyco has accumulated rich experience in the development of Glyco™ vaccines. Clients only need to tell their needs, and our experts will design customized solutions for you. Please feel free to contact us for more information on our polysaccharide conjugation service.

Reference:

1. Hussein, A.R.; et al. Robust assessment of molecular size distribution of meningococcal AC vaccine. Journal of AOAC International. 2016, 99(6): 1589-1595.