Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W135 capsular polysaccharide (MenW-135 CPS)

The Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W135 capsular polysaccharide is a critical virulence factor and a primary target for immunization against invasive meningococcal disease. This polysaccharide is chemically characterized by repeating units of galactose and sialic acid, which form a protective capsule around the bacterium, allowing it to survive in the host bloodstream by evading the innate immune system. In medical applications, the polysaccharide is used as a vaccine antigen, often conjugated to a carrier protein such as CRM197 or diphtheria toxoid to convert it into a T-cell dependent antigen, thereby improving immunologic memory and efficacy in young children. By stimulating the production of specific bactericidal antibodies, these vaccines prevent life-threatening conditions like meningitis and septicemia caused by the W135 serogroup. Clinical monitoring of its effectiveness is standardly achieved through serum bactericidal assays, which serve as a correlate of protection.

Other names

Meningococcal serogroup W-135 capsular polysaccharideNeisseria meningitidis serogroup W polysaccharideMenW CPSW-135 antigen

Induction of active immunity via the stimulation of B-lymphocytes to produce serogroup-specific capsular antibodies, which mediate bactericidal activity through complement-dependent lysis and opsonophagocytosis of the bacteria.