image: Rational design of an immunogen. (Top) The more than 300 sequence variants of fHBP of meningococcus B can be classified into three groups, variants 1, 2, and 3 (red, blue, and green, respectively). The immunodominant surfaces of variants 1, 2, and 3 (shown as solid colors in the representations of sequence and protein structure) elicit bactericidal antibodies in mice, but these antibodies are only effective at neutralizing meningococcal strains within each group. The left half of the bilobed fHBP structural schematic represents the C-terminal β-barrel region, which carries key amino acids that elicit bactericidal antibodies. (Bottom) In a new study, Scarselli et al. use structure-based design to engineer a single chimeric immunogen that is capable of eliciting antibodies that neutralize meningococcal variants from all three groups. Manipulation of immunogens at the submolecular level may enable the development of vaccines against genetically diverse pathogens. This image is Figure 1 from the related Perspective by Kwong et al. This image relates to a paper that appeared in the July 13, 2011, issue of Science Translational Medicine, published by AAAS. The paper, by Dr. M. Scarselli of Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.r.l. in Siena, Italy, and colleagues, was titled, "Rational Design of a Meningococcal Antigen Inducing Broad Protective Immunity." view more
Credit: C. Bickel/Science © 2011 AAAS