Development of natural immunity to Neisseria meningitidis

Although meningococcal disease is rare in industrialized nations, Neisseria meningitidis holds a prominent position amongst pediatric infections becau se of the dramatic clinical presentation of the disease, high mortality, ep idemic potential and the recent disappearance of many other important infec tious diseases in developed countries through improvements in public health and vaccination. The precise nature of natural immunity to meningococci re mains unknown, although a complex interaction between the organism and naso pharyngeal mucosal barrier, innate immune mechanisms and acquired immunity is involved. Study of the mechanisms of natural immunity may provide the ke y to development of vaccines that can reduce the burden of disease in early childhood. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.