Quality control of polyvalent pneumococcal polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine by nephelometry.

A nephelometric method was used for quantitative analysis of individual polysaccharides (PSs) in a polyvalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine using CRM(197) as carrier protein. Using this method, the individual types 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F PSs were found to range between 82.3 to 119% of the manufacturer's indicated values.During conjugation using reductive amination, pneumococcal PS was first oxidized to introduce aldehyde groups. Higher or lower levels of antigen-antibody reaction were observed in periodate activated and then reduced PS of some serotypes compared to non-treated PS. Use of oxidized and reduced PS may provide an early indication of change in conjugation process. Furthermore, since the final monovalent and polyvalent conjugate vaccines gradually change during the storage period, the nephelometry provides an useful analytical method for stability study of these vaccines.     

Simple and rapid technique for monitoring the quality of meningococcal polysaccharides by high performance size-exclusion chromatography

The molecular size of meningococcal polysaccharides is an important physico-chemical parameter which correlates with immunogenicity. This paper describes the experimental conditions for high-performance size-exclusion chromatography on a PL Aquagel-OH 60 column to follow changes in the size distribution and therefore in the distribution coefficient (K(D)) of the meningococcal polysaccharides of groups A, C, Y and W-135 used to formulate anti-Neisseria meningitidis vaccines. The experimental conditions were also found to be suitable for a rapid monitoring of the quality (no group A polysaccharide depolymerization) of the tetravalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine.     

Serogroup quantitation of multivalent polysaccharide and polysaccharide-conjugate meningococcal vaccines from China

The active components of most meningococcal vaccines are four antigenic serogroup capsular polysaccharides (A, C, Y, W135). The vaccines, monovalent or multivalent mixtures of either free polysaccharides or polysaccharides conjugated to antigenic carrier proteins, may be in liquid or lyophilised formulations, with or without excipients. Acid hydrolysis and chromatographic methods for serogroup quantitation, which were previously optimised and qualified using polysaccharide-based standards and a narrow range of real vaccines, are here challenged with multiple lots of a broad assortment of additional multivalent polysaccharide-based meningococcal vaccine products. Centrifugal filtration successfully removed all interfering lactose excipient without loss of polysaccharides to allow for the determination of Y and W135 serogroups. Replicate operations by three different analysts indicated high method reproducibility. Results indicated some lot-to-lot and product-to-product variations. However, all vaccines were within general specifications for each serogroup polysaccharide, with the exception of all lots of one polysaccharide vaccine – which by these methods were found to be deficient in the serogroup A component only. These robust techniques are very useful for the evaluation of antigen content and consistency of manufacture. The deformulation, hydrolysis and chromatographic methods may be adaptable for the evaluation of other types of polysaccharide-based vaccines.     

Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccines: A review

Polysaccharides produced by Neisseria meningitidis are pharmaceutically important molecules, and are the active components of vaccines against N. meningitidis serogroups A, C, W135 and Y. Effective vaccines based on capsular polysaccharide, polysaccharide conjugates and outer membrane vesicles have been developed for strains expressing capsular polysaccharides that define the sero groups A, C, Y and W135. However, conventional approaches to develop a vaccine for group B strains have been largely unsuccessful. This review focuses on the various aspects of fermentative production of meningococcal polysaccharide from N. meningitidis, methods of conjugation for improving the immunogenicity of polysaccharide vaccine, and efficient and cost effective methods for the purification of N. meningitidis capsular polysaccharide and outer membrane vesicles. In addition, different analytical techniques for the quantitative determination of polysaccharide vaccine and evaluation of structural integrity of conjugate vaccine have been described.     

Determination of saccharide content in pneumococcal polysaccharides and conjugate vaccines by GC-MSD

A simple and sensitive gas chromatographic method was designed for quantitative analysis of Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharides, activated polysaccharides, and polysaccharide conjugates. Pneumococcal serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, and 23F polysaccharide or conjugate were subjected to methanolysis in 3N hydrochloric acid in methanol followed by re-N-acetylation and trimethylsilylation. Derivatized samples were chromatographed and detected using gas chromatography with mass selective detector. Gas chromatographic results were compared with colorimetric values with agreement of 92 to 123% over the range of all samples tested. Monosaccharides released during methanolysis included hexoses, uronic acids, 6-deoxy-hexoses, amino sugars, and alditols. Quantitative recovery of monosaccharides was achieved for all serotypes by the use of a single methanolysis, derivatization, and chromatography procedure. Response factors generated from authentic monosaccharide standards were used for quantitation of pneumococcal polysaccharides and conjugates with confirmation of peak assignments by retention time and mass spectral analysis. This method allows saccharide quantitation in multivalent pneumococcal vaccine intermediates and final drug products with low-level detection (10 pg) and peak purity.     

检测四价脑膜炎球菌多糖疫苗中A群多糖含量ELISA法的建立

目的建立双抗体夹心ELISA法,对A群流脑多糖抗原进行特异性定量测定。方法制备抗A群多糖的特异性多克隆抗体,所得抗血清经辛酸-硫酸铵沉淀法纯化后,用过碘酸钠法制备辣根过氧化物酶标记多克隆抗体。分别以抗A群多糖多克隆抗体作为包被抗体及酶标二抗,建立双抗体夹心ELISA法,优化反应条件,对A群多糖抗原进行特异性定量测定。结果一系列验证试验表明,该法特异性较好,未检出与C、Y、W135群多糖的交叉反应;1.25～20 ng/mL多糖浓度范围的剂量反应曲线线性最佳,相关系数大于0.98,经实验内10次及不同试验间以16、84、ng/mL测定3次A群多糖中的含量,变异系数在6.3%～11.5%间,回收率在91.8%～105.9%之间,符合常规质控要求,检测限量为4 ng/mL。采用该法测定3批ACYW135群四价脑膜炎球菌多糖疫苗中A群多糖含量、分子大小及回收率的结果均符合规程草案质量标准。结论建立的双抗体夹心ELISA法可尝试用于ACYW135群脑膜炎球菌多糖疫苗中A群多糖的关键质量指标的检测。     

Development and validation of an NMR-based identity assay for bacterial polysaccharides

A method utilizing NMR spectroscopy has been developed to confirm the identity of bacterial polysaccharides used to formulate a polyvalent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. The method is based on 600 MHz proton NMR spectra of individual serotype-specific polysaccharides. A portion of the anomeric region of each spectrum (5.89 to 4.64 ppm) is compared to spectra generated for designated reference samples for each polysaccharide of interest. The selected region offers a spectral window that is unique to a given polysaccharide and is sensitive to any structural alteration of the repeating units. The similarity of any two spectral profiles is evaluated using a correlation coefficient (rho), where rho >/= 0.95 between a sample and reference profile indicates a positive identification of the sample polysaccharide. This method has been shown to be extremely selective in its ability to discriminate between serotype-specific polysaccharides, some of which differ by no more than a single glycosidic linkage. Furthermore, the method is rapid and does not require extensive sample manipulations or pretreatments. The method was validated as a qualitative identity assay and will be incorporated into routine quality control testing of polysaccharide powders to be used in preparation of the polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine PNEUMOVAX 23. The specificity and reproducibility of the NMR-based identity assay is superior to the currently used colorimetric assays and can be readily adapted for use with other bacterial polysaccharide preparations as well.     

Base hydrolysis of phosphodiester bonds in pneumococcal polysaccharides

A comprehensive study of the base hydrolysis of all phosphodiester bond-containing capsular polysaccharides of the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine is described here. Capsular polysaccharides from serotypes 6B, 10A, 17F, 19A, 19F, and 20 contain a phosphodiester bond that connects the repeating units in these polysaccharides (also referred to as backbone phosphodiester bonds), and polysaccharides from serotypes 11A, 15B, 18C, and 23F contain a phosphodiester bond that links a side chain to their repeating units. Molecular weight measurements of the polysaccharides, using high performance size exclusion chromatography with tandem multiangle laser light scattering and refractive index detection, was used to evaluate the kinetics of hydrolysis. The measurement of molecular weight provides a high degree of sensitivity in the case of small extents of reaction, thus allowing reliable measurements of the kinetics over short times. Pseudo-first-order rate constants for these polysaccharides were estimated using a simple model that accounts for the polydispersity of the starting sample. It was found that the relative order of backbone phosphodiester bond instability due to base hydrolysis was 19A > 10A > 19F > 6B > 17F, 20. Degradation of side-chain phosphodiester bonds was not observed, although the high degree of sensitivity in measurements is lost in this case, due to the low contribution of the side chains to the total polysaccharide molecular weight. In comparison with literature data on pneumococcal polysaccharide 6A, 19A was found to be the more labile, and hence appears to be the most labile pneumococcal polysaccharide studied to date. The rate of hydrolysis increased at higher pH and in the presence of divalent cation, but the extent was lower than expected based on similar data on RNA. Finally, the differences in the phosphodiester bond stabilities were analyzed by considering stereochemical factors in these polysaccharides. These results also provide a framework for evaluation of molecular integrity of phosphodiester-bond-containing polysaccharides in different solution conditions.     

Purification and characterization of macrolide 2''-phosphotransferase type II from a strain of Escherichia coli highly resistant to macrolide antibiotics

Hyperimmune and high-titered polyclonal pneumococcal antisera, specific for cross-reactive types within groups, were produced in adult rabbits. Purified capsular polysaccharide was injected intravenously into adult rabbits. One week later, these rabbits were given multiple intravenous injections of formalin-inactivated pneumococci of the cross-reactive type by an established method. Each of the resultant antisera were specific for the cross-reactive type indicating that the previous injection of the polysaccharide had induced epitope-specific tolerance. This method was successful for production of antisera against pneumococcal types 6A, 6B, 9N, 9V, 19F and 19A. Polyclonal rabbit pneumococcal antisera have some advantages over murine monoclonal antibodies for serologic studies and this method should be applicable for producing type-specific antibodies to cross-reactive polysaccharides of clinical interest. Further, this method is simpler and generally produces higher titered monovalent (factor) reagents than absorbed antisera.     

Elaboration of both the group W135 and group Y capsular polysccharides by a single strain of Neisseria meningitidis

A single strain (8021) of Neisseria meningitidis, isolated from a child with disseminated meningococcal disease, was found to elaborate two serogroup-specific capsular polysaccharides-Y and W135. The original isolate as well as the progeny of ten single colony sub-isolates each agglutinated with both group Y and group W135 serogrouping antisera. The capsular polysccharide of strain 8021 contained the chemical constituents of both the W135 and Y capsular polysaccharides in a ratio of about 2.5:1. The patient responded immunologically to both capsular polysaccharides with haemagglutinating antibodies. Analysis by double diffusion in agar revealed that the capsular polysaccharide of strain 8021 contained individual molecules of group W135 and group Y capsular polysaccharides as well as a mosaic molecule containing both antigenic determinants.     

Type-specific enzyme immunoassay for detection of pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide antigens in nasopharyngeal specimens

We developed a new competitive EIA method for the demonstration of pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides from respiratory samples. The pediatric types 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F were selected for this study, because these capsular polysaccharides were included in the first heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, which were used in the Finnish Otitis Media Vaccine Trial. Sensitivity of the EIA tests for purified polysaccharide antigens varied between 5 and 100 ng/ml, depending on the type. The assays performed well in 100 nasopharyngeal samples (NPS) samples processed through an enrichment culture, with an almost 100% sensitivity compared with routine culture. The method appeared type-specific, except that EIA for 6B capsule also detected 6A. The method is applicable for type-specific identification of pneumococcus in carriage studies.     

Comparative study of the sensitivity and specificity of dried and liquid meningococcal erythrocyte diagnostic agents A, C and Y in a controlled trial

The comparative study of the sensitivity and specificity of dried and liquid meningococcal erythrocyte diagnosticums A, C and Y has been carried out in the indirect hemagglutination test with the sera of persons immunized with different doses of dried chemical meningococcal (group A) polysaccharide vaccine and persons receiving placebo under the conditions of a controlled epidemiological trial. The possibility of using, on principle, both liquid (A, C) and dried (A, C, Y) preparations in clinico-epidemiological studies has been established. The continuation of the research work aimed at the improvement of meningococcal diagnosticums and, in particular, at the development of polyvalent preparations seems to be justified.     

Immunochemical studies and genetic background of two Neisseria meningitidis isolates expressing unusual capsule polysaccharide antigens with specificities of both serogroup Y and W135

We described 2 unusual Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated from epidemiologically unrelated invasive meningococcal disease cases in Ontario, Canada. Both isolates have features typical of serogroup Y N. meningitidis: are of serotype 2c, are of the multi-locus sequence types typical of the serogroup Y strains in Canada, and are genotyped as serogroup Y based on a previously described PCR-ELISA method that detects the serogroup-Y-specific siaD gene. However, both strains were poly-agglutinable in both anti-Y and anti-W135 antisera. Further studies on 1 of these 2 isolates showed the presence of glucose and galactose as well as sialic acids in its purified capsular polysaccharide, suggesting the presence of both serogroup Y and serogroup W135 polysaccharides. Rabbit antisera produced to this strain contained antibodies to both purified serogroup Y and serogroup W135 capsular polysaccharides. Absorption experiments with either serogroup Y or serogroup W135 bacteria confirmed the presence of antibodies to these 2 different polysaccharides. DNA sequencing of the cps operon from both isolates revealed a siaD gene with 99.7% homology to the published siaD sequence from a serogroup Y strain but with 3 point mutations that all resulted in amino acid changes. How these strains may affect results of routine surveillance, PCR diagnosis, and immuno-protection by vaccination are discussed.     

Effect of vaccination against pneumococcal infection in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Vaccination with polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine "Pneumo 23" (Sanofi Pasteur, France) was performed in 31 children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) as well as in 19 children with respiratory tract diseases (asthma, chronic pneumonia), which formed comparison group. Fourty-three unvaccinated children with DM1 were included in the control group. Dynamics of IgG levels to mixture of pneumococcal polysaccharides (PS) included in the vaccine as well as to PS of serotypes 3, 6B, 9N, 23F, and to cell wall polysaccharides of Streptococcus pneumoniae were assessed. Using ELISA method, significant increase of IgG levels to mixture of PS and to PS of pneumococcal serotype 3 was detected. Although intensity of immune response to vaccination in children with respiratory diseases was significantly higher compared to children with DM1 (mean geometric titer of antibodies, proportion of patients with high antibody titers, and with 4-fold seroconversion). Development of methods to strengthen immune response in children with DM1 vaccinated against pneumococcal infection is required.     

Four monoclonal antibodies against capsular polysaccharides of Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A,C, Y and W135: Its application in identity tests

Murine hybridoma monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced against the capsular polysaccharide (CPs) of serogroups A, C, W₁₃₅ and Y meningococci (MenA, MenC, MenW, MenY) in order to develop immunological reagents for the identification of meningococcal polysaccharides. Each serogroup-specific MAb reacted with the CPs from its homologous serogroup only and did not react with CPs from the other three serogroups. The affinity constant (Ka) of the four MAbs measured by non-competitive ELISA was 6.62 × 10⁹, 2.76 × 10⁹, 1.48 × 10⁹ and 3.8 × 10⁹ M^?1 for MenA, MenC, MenW and MenY MAbs respectively. The application of these MAbs for identity tests was demonstrated by their abilities to correctly identify the CPs from serogroups A, C, W₁₃₅ and Y in meningococcal CPs-based vaccines through ELISA. The MAbs obtained in this work are a very valuable set of tools for study meningococcal polysaccharides vaccines.     

Alignment of absolute and relative molecular size specifications for a polyvalent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PNEUMOVAX 23).

An approach was developed to align release and end-expiry specifications for molecular size for the polyvalent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PNEUMOVAX 23). Each of the 23 polysaccharide components of the vaccine was separately subjected to ultrasonication to produce a series of preparations of decreasing weight-average molecular mass (Mw). These size-reduced polysaccharides were analysed as monovalent solutions by high-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) with multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS) and refractive index (RI) detection to measure their Mw. These samples were also analysed by HPSEC with rate nephelometry (RN) detection to measure their relative molecular size (r-MS). The data from the two molecular size measurements established a correlation between Mw and r-MS. For each polysaccharide component of the vaccine, this correlation permits the direct alignment of the r-MS specification in the final formulated product with the Mw specification for the monovalent polysaccharide preparation. The alignment of specifications provides a high level of assurance that the quality control of the final vaccine product is consistent with that of the polysaccharide starting materials.     

Polyosides (encapsulated bacteria)

The polysaccharide capsule which surrounds bacterial species such as Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Salmonella typhi is a potent virulence factor by protecting the bacteria from phagocytosis. The host responds with antibody production and specific antibodies plus complement binding to the capsule facilitate opsonization of the micro-organism, which is phagocytized and eliminated. Purified capsular polysaccharides elicit T-independent antibody responses without a memory function, but are often poorly immunogenic in infants where much of the invasive H. influenzae type b (Hib) and pneumococcal infections is seen. Therefore purified polysaccharides have found limited use as vaccines. However, covalent linkage of the capsular polysaccharide, or fractions thereof, to immunogenic carrier proteins creates glycoconjugates which are T-dependent antigens and which elicit antibodies also in infants and which prime for boosting either with the glycoconjugate or the capsular polysaccharide. In the last decade Hib glycoconjugate vaccines have been successfully introduced and in countries with very high immunization coverage the disease has been virtually eliminated and a decline of over 95% has been seen in countries with slightly lower vaccine rates. World-wide use of Hib glycoconjugate vaccines offers the possibility of elimination of invasive Hib disease. Pneumococcal (11 serotypes with coverage of approximately 85% of invasive disease), meningococcal (A, C, W 135, Y but not B) and S. typhi glycoconjugates are in advanced development and offer the prospect of being as successful as the Hib glycoconjugates.     

Evaluation of the reactogenic and immunogenic properties of meningococcal vaccines

The results of the study of the reactogenic and immunogenic properties of meningococcal polysaccharide A + C vaccine in the controlled epidemiological trial, with regard to variations depending on the initial immunological characteristics of vaccinees in terms of the levels of antibodies to the polysaccharides contained in the vaccine, are presented. The study was made on school children: 303 of them were immunized with the meningococcal vaccine under test, and 229 (controls) with adsorbed diphtheria-tetanus toxoid. This study revealed that the reactogenic properties of the preparation were more pronounced in those children whose blood sera had been found to contain no antibodies to polysaccharides A and C prior to immunization. The immunological properties were more pronounced with respect to polysaccharide A. The titer of antibodies to polysaccharide A was found to depend on the previous immunological status of the child, which was indicative of the booster effect produced by the vaccine. The data obtained in the study suggest that the evaluation of the reactogenic and immunogenic properties of newly developed prophylactic preparations should be made with due regard for the previous immunological status of vaccinees in respect to the antigens contained in the meningococcal vaccine under test.     

O-Acetylation status of the capsular polysaccharides of serogroup Y and W135 meningococci isolated in the UK

At a time when tetravalent conjugate vaccines for meningococcal serogroups A/C/Y/W135 are being formulated the O-acetylation status of their respective capsular polysaccharides has not previously been studied in the UK for all components. Although this has been elucidated for serogroup C, little is known about the O-acetylation status of serogroups W135 and Y. Meningococcal serogroup W135 (n=181) and Y (n=90) isolates submitted to the PHLS Meningococcal Reference Unit in 1996, 2000 and 2001 were investigated for O-acetylation capsular status by dot blot assay. Eight per cent of W135 and 79% of Y isolates respectively were found to be O-acetylated with a similar distribution found in both carrier and case isolates. An increase in O-acetylated W135 isolates was noted between 2000 (0%) and 2001 (21%) which was not due to the introduction of the Hajj associated W135 (ET 37 complex; serosubtype P1.5,2) isolates, all of which were de-O-acetylated. Although the biological relevance of O-acetylation status is unknown for these serogroups, an understanding of O-acetylation status of the respective polysaccharides may provide useful insights into the optimal vaccine formulation.     

ACYW135群脑膜炎球菌多糖疫苗的免疫原性评价

目的评价ACYW135群脑膜炎球菌多糖疫苗在昆明健康人群接种的免疫原性,为流脑防治策略提供依据。方法 2010年对昆明市2岁!3、岁!、4岁!、5岁!、6岁!、10岁!、≥15岁共7个年龄组分层随机抽取筛选出654名健康人,分别采集免前和免后1个月血清。用微量杀菌力试验(TTC法)分别检测血清中抗A、C、Y和W135群脑膜炎球菌杀菌抗体的水平。结果免后1个月抗A、C、Y和W135群脑膜炎球菌的杀菌抗体阳转率分别为96.99%、96.37%、88.43%和87.07%,抗A、C、Y和W135群膜炎球菌血清的杀菌抗体几何平均滴度(GMT)分别为1∶297.991、∶195.80、1∶72.74和1∶45.95。结论 ACYW135群脑膜炎球菌多糖疫苗在≥2岁以上的健康人群中有较好的免疫原性。