Induction of antimeningitis immunity by synthetic peptides. III. Immunoactive synthetic fragments of the NspA protein from Neisseria meningitidis

Four potentially immunoactive peptide fragments of the NspA protein from the outer membrane of the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis were synthesized in order to create a synthetic vaccine against the meningococcal infection by the serogroup B bacterium. Mice of various lines were immunized with the free peptides nonconjugated with a protein carrier. All the synthetic peptides were shown to induce the production of the antipeptide antibodies in mice. A peptide capable of inducing a decrease in the number of bacteria in blood and the protection of infected animals from death was found in the experiments on the protection of the animals infected with two strains of the Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B.