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Scientists have successfully tested the vaccine against meningococcus B
Last reviewed: 28.11.2021
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It is a strain of a bacterium that is guilty of meningococcal diseases, including one of the most common forms of meningitis - inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is caused by both viruses and bacteria, but the bacterial form (say, meningococcus B) is considered more severe: every year it kills a huge number of babies all over the world.
Neisseria meningitides is a type of bacterium that causes meningococcal disease in humans. There are five most common strains: A, B, C, W135 and Y, and the sixth strain, H.
The current work of Chilean specialists is the last stage of the testing of the 4CMenB vaccine for strain B. Vaccines that are struggling with strains A, C, W and Y are now available; To create the same preparation for strain B was rather difficult, because in reality it is a collection of slightly different strains. Scientists managed to overcome this problem after carrying out a complete genomic analysis and comparing the genetic structures of different sub-stems, aimed at revealing their common features. All this allowed the development of a wide-spectrum vaccine, which includes components for the attack of four different parts of the bacterium.
In the trials of the drug, 1,600 children and adolescents aged 11-17 participated (the average age of the subjects was 14 years) from twelve Chilean cities. Some of the subjects received the vaccine, the rest - a placebo. One, two or three doses of 4CMenB were administered at intervals of one, two or six months.
The results of the participants' blood test showed that two or three doses of the vaccine were almost completely protected against meningococcus B, and 92-97% were protected from those who received only one dose. Six months later, these indicators in both groups changed to 91-100% and 73-76%, respectively.
While it remains unclear whether the vaccine provides protection against all sub-stamps of type B and how long the effectiveness of the immune response will remain. In the placebo group of meningococcal B, 29-50% of the subjects were protected. None of the participants showed any harmful side effects associated with vaccination.
Previously, Chilean scientists have determined that the vaccine also provides protection for very young children. It is expected that the drug 4CMenB, manufactured by Novartis, will appear on the market in a few months.
Meningitis caused by strain B is most common in European countries, the United States and South America.
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