Peptide mimics elicit antibody responses against the outer-membrane lipooligosaccharide of group B Neisseria meningitidis

As an alternative approach towards the development of a meningococcal vacci ne, the potential of peptide mimics of lipooligosaccharide (LOS) to elicit cross-reactive immune responses against LOS was investigated. The heptapept ides SMYGSYN and APARQLP were identified by enrichment from a coliphage dis play library with a LOS-specific monoclonal antibody. Mice immunised with t hese peptides conjugated to diphtheria toroid elicited a total IgG response to LOS with geometric mean titres 2-4 times higher compared with nonimmuni sed controls. There was an increase in LOS-specific IgG1 immunoglobulin: wh ereas specific IgG2a and IgG3 decreased slightly in response to immunisatio n. The data demonstrated that peptide mimics can elicit immune responses ag ainst meningococcal LOS. (C) 2000 Federation of European Microbiological So cieties. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.