Protective properties of recombinant IgA1 protease from meningococcus

The study of enzymatic and protective properties of recombinant IgA1 protease in active and mutant form has shown that the active form of IgA1 protease exhibited species- and type-specificity for mouse and human immunoglobulins. A mutant form, lacking enzymatic activity, had protective properties against meningococcal infection, induced by meningococcus serogroup A, B and C; it protected mice from lethal infection by live virulent cultures of heterologous serogroups of meningococcus. The results obtained in this study suggest that IgA1 protease may be considered as a perspective preparation at the stages of development of a polyvalent vaccine for protection of human against meningococcal infections of various etiology.