Capsular polysaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y (MenY CPS)

The capsular polysaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y is a major virulence factor that facilitates the survival of the bacterium within the human host by providing a protective outer layer. This polysaccharide is composed of repeating disaccharide units of glucose and N-acetylneuraminic acid (sialic acid), which mimic host cell surfaces to evade immune detection and prevent complement-mediated lysis [1][2]. In the context of pharmacology, this molecule is the primary antigen used in the development of meningococcal vaccines. Because pure polysaccharides often elicit poor immune memory, they are typically conjugated to carrier proteins like CRM197 or tetanus toxoid to enhance immunogenicity and induce a robust T-cell dependent response [3][4]. These vaccines work by stimulating the production of serum bactericidal antibodies that recognize the serogroup Y capsule, leading to the destruction of the bacteria upon exposure. Consequently, targeting this polysaccharide is essential for preventing invasive diseases such as meningitis and septicemia caused by this specific serogroup [5]. The structural integrity and O-acetylation status of the polysaccharide are critical factors in determining the specificity and potency of the resulting immune response. Sources: [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3436104/ [2] https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Neisseria-meningitidis-serogroup-Y-polysaccharide [3] https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines/menveo [4] https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html [5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534827/

Other names

Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y capsular polysaccharideMenY polysaccharideMeningococcal group Y polysaccharideMenY antigen

Induction of protective capsular-specific serum bactericidal antibodies that mediate complement-dependent killing of Neisseria meningitidis.