REACTOGENIC PROPERTIES AND ANTIGENIC ACTIVITY OF GROUP-B MENINGOCOCCAL VACCINE PREPARED FROM THE NATURAL COMPLEX OF SPECIFIC POLYSACCHARIDE AND OUTER-MEMBRANE PROTEIN

Group B meningococcal vaccine consisting of the natural complex of specific polysaccharide and outer membrane protein (OMP) has been shown to be moderately reactogenic, safe with respect to the pffect of undermining tolerance to human brain tissue antigens and to produce no allergization of humans. The vaccine under study possesses antigenic activity: (a) immunization with this vaccine ensures the fourfold rise of the level of antibodies to the group-specific polysaccharide of group B meningococcus in about 80 % of persons with the initially low level of antibodies, this percentage being retained during the whole period of observation, i. e. 85 days; (b) the vaccine enhances the level of antibodies to meningococcal OMP, determined in the enzyme immunoassay and the passive hemagglutination test; (c) these data are indicative of the expediency of immunizing the risk groups of persons with the initially low level of antibodies.