Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A, C, W, Y capsular polysaccharides and serogroup B protein antigens (MenABCWY antigens)

This target consists of a combination of surface antigens from Neisseria meningitidis, a Gram-negative bacterium that causes life-threatening invasive diseases such as meningitis and septicemia (CDC, 2023). The serogroup A, C, W, and Y components are capsular polysaccharides, which are major virulence factors that help the bacteria evade the host immune system; these are typically conjugated to carrier proteins to induce a T-cell dependent immune response (Pollard et al., 2009). Because the serogroup B polysaccharide capsule is poorly immunogenic due to its structural similarity to human neural cell adhesion molecules, the MenB component utilizes recombinant protein antigens, including factor H binding protein (fHbp), Neisserial adhesin A (NadA), and Neisserial Heparin-Binding Antigen (NHBA) (Pizza et al., 2020). When administered as a vaccine, these antigens stimulate the production of bactericidal antibodies that recognize and bind to the bacterial surface. This binding triggers the complement system, leading to the direct lysis of the pathogen or its clearance via opsonophagocytosis (FDA, 2023). Pentavalent vaccines targeting these specific antigens provide comprehensive protection against the five most common serogroups responsible for meningococcal outbreaks globally.

Other names

MenABCWYPentavalent meningococcal vaccine antigensMeningococcal group A, C, W, Y and B antigensMeningococcal polysaccharides and recombinant proteins

Induction of antigen-specific bactericidal antibodies that facilitate complement-mediated lysis and opsonophagocytosis of Neisseria meningitidis (CDC, 2023; FDA, 2023).