Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y (N. meningitidis (A, B, C, W, Y))

Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative bacterium, also known as meningococcus, that serves as a major cause of life-threatening meningitis and sepsis globally (WHO, 2023). The organism is classified into serogroups based on the composition of its polysaccharide capsule, with serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y responsible for the vast majority of invasive disease (CDC, 2023). These serogroups are the primary targets for both polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines (for A, C, W, and Y) and protein-based vaccines (for B), which aim to elicit protective immunity (StatPearls, 2023). In clinical practice, the identification of these serogroups is crucial for both outbreak management and the selection of appropriate preventative measures. Therapeutic intervention for active infections involves the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics that target the bacterial cell wall or metabolic pathways to eliminate the pathogen from the bloodstream and central nervous system (NIH, 2022).

Other names

MeningococcusNeisseria meningitidisMenAMenBMenCMenWMenYMenABCWY

Vaccines targeting these serogroups work by inducing the production of serogroup-specific bactericidal antibodies. These antibodies facilitate the destruction of the bacteria through complement-mediated lysis and opsonophagocytosis (CDC, 2023; StatPearls, 2023). Antibiotics target the bacterium by inhibiting essential processes such as cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, or DNA replication, thereby halting the infection (WHO, 2023).