The tumor necrosis factor polymorphism TNF (-308) is associated with susceptibility to meningococcal sepsis, but not with lethality.

Objective: To determine whether the promoter polymorphism tumor necrosis factor (TNF) (-308) is associated with susceptibility to or death from meningococcal sepsis. DESIGN, SETTING, PATIENTS, AND PARTICIPANTS: Association study involving 1321 patients with microbiologically proven invasive meningococcal disease presenting to hospitals throughout United Kingdom during 1998-2001, among whom 134 died. Controls were derived from 1280 northern English blood donors.

Genetic polymorphism of the binding domain of surfactant protein-A2 increases susceptibility to meningococcal disease.

Background: Meningococcal disease occurs after colonization of the nasopharynx with Neisseria meningitidis. Surfactant protein (SP)-A and SP-D are pattern-recognition molecules of the respiratory tract that activate inflammatory and phagocytic defences after binding to microbial sugars. Variation in the genes of the surfactant proteins affects the expression and function of these molecules.

Effective nasal influenza vaccine delivery using chitosan.

Nasal influenza vaccination may prove to be a good alternative to parenteral injection because of the enhancement of the mucosal immune response and the ease of vaccine administration. This study investigated the use of chitosan, a bioadhesive polymer, as a nasal delivery system with inactivated, subunit influenza vaccine. Subjects received nasally 15 or 7.

Variation within genes encoding interleukin-1 and the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist influence the severity of meningococcal disease.

Background: Genetically determined variation in proinflammatory cytokine release influences severity of meningococcal disease and other serious infections.

Objective: To ascertain the relative frequencies of single nucleotide polymorphisms within the interleukin-1 gene locus among patients who survived and those who died of meningococcal disease and a control population of blood donors.

Design: Association study.