Comparison of long-term humoral memory development after immunisation against Neisseria meningitidis B or diphtheria toxoid.

Since genome sequence data became available there has been a marked increase in number of protein antigens that have been suggested as prospective vaccine components against Neisseria meningitidis B (MenB). Few studies have addressed the mechanisms by which meningococcal vaccines generate and sustain immunological memory. The goal of this study was to compare the B-cell response (antibody-secreting cells [ASC], memory B cell and IgG) evoked by a MenB vaccine (VA-MENGOC-BC(®)) with the B-cell response to diphtheria toxoid (DT) induced by a successful vaccine (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis [DTP]).