Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B protein

Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B proteins comprise a diverse group of surface-exposed and secreted proteins critical for bacterial survival, virulence, and immune evasion. They include outer membrane proteins such as factor H-binding protein (FHbp), neisserial heparin binding antigen (NHBA), Neisseria adhesin A (NadA), and various porins. Several of these proteins serve as key antigens in serogroup B meningococcal vaccines. Other proteins are involved in adhesion, iron uptake, and complement evasion. The group is not a single molecular target, but an immunologically and clinically important collection of bacterial proteins. The term is non-specific and incorporates multiple targets with variable molecular structure and function.

Other names

MenB proteinsMeningococcus B proteinsNeisseria meningitidis group B surface antigensFactor H-binding protein (FHbp)Neisserial heparin binding antigen (NHBA)Neisseria adhesin A (NadA)Porin A (PorA)

Vaccines elicit antibody responses to these proteins, blocking bacterial attachment, neutralizing toxins, or promoting complement-mediated lysis