Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A capsular polysaccharide antigen-conjugated protein carrier (MenA-CRM197)

The Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A capsular polysaccharide antigen-conjugated protein carrier is a glycoconjugate molecule designed to elicit a protective immune response against invasive meningococcal disease caused by serogroup A N. meningitidis. It comprises the purified capsular polysaccharide of serogroup A, consisting of repeating units of O-acetylated (α1→6)-linked N-acetyl-D-mannosamine-1-phosphate, covalently linked to a protein carrier (e.g., tetanus toxoid or CRM197). This conjugation enhances immunogenicity, particularly in infants and young children, by promoting T-cell dependent B cell activation, leading to the production of high-affinity antibodies that target the capsular polysaccharide and confer protection against infection.

Other names

MenA capsular polysaccharide conjugateSerogroup A meningococcal conjugate vaccineMenA conjugate vaccine

Induction of anti-capsular polysaccharide antibodies via T-cell dependent B cell activation, leading to opsonization and complement-mediated killing of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A.