Recent studies in humans and mice have found that meningococcal outer membrane vesicle-containing vaccines (OMV) induce cross-species immune responses against gonococci and are associated with protection. To study this, Andreea Waltmann, PhD, immunized mice with two meningococcal OMV-containing vaccines known to accelerate clearance of N. gonorrhoeae, 4CMenB and OMV from an engineered N. meningitidis strain lacking major surface antigens PorA, PorB, and Rmp (MC58 ΔABR).
Mice immunized with 4CMenB or MC58 ΔABR demonstrated shortened courses of recovery of vaginal N. gonorrhoeae compared to control mice immunized with alum alone. Vaccination with 4CMenB or MC58ΔABR OMV elicited serum and vaginal cross-reactive anti-Ng-OMV antibody responses that were augmented after vaginal challenge with N. gonorrhoeae.