Neisseria heparin-binding antigen (NHBA) (NHBA)

Neisseria heparin-binding antigen (NHBA) is a surface-exposed lipoprotein ubiquitously expressed across Neisseria meningitidis strains, originally identified via reverse vaccinology as GNA2132 (UniProt: Q9K1G1). It plays a significant role in bacterial pathogenesis by binding heparin through a conserved arginine-rich region, which facilitates adhesion to host cells and enhances the bacterium's resistance to the host's innate immune response (PubMed: 20566854). NHBA is also a substrate for the site-specific proteases NalP and lactoferrin, which release a C-terminal fragment that may further modulate the host environment (PubMed: 29158408). As a therapeutic target, NHBA is a primary component of the 4CMenB vaccine (Bexsero), where it is expressed as a fusion protein to induce protective bactericidal antibodies (PubMed: 24613341). Its inclusion in vaccine formulations is intended to provide broad coverage against various meningococcal serogroups, particularly serogroup B, which lacks a traditional polysaccharide vaccine target. The efficacy of targeting NHBA is monitored through serum bactericidal assays, which measure the ability of vaccine-induced antibodies to kill the pathogen.

Other names

GNA2132Genome-derived Neisseria antigen 2132

Induction of serum bactericidal antibodies that trigger complement-mediated lysis of the bacteria.