%0 Journal Article %A de Filippis, Ivano %T Quest for a broad-range vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B: implications of genetic variations of the surface-exposed proteins %D 2009 %J Journal of Medical Microbiology, %V 58 %N 9 %P 1127-1132 %@ 1473-5644 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.011189-0 %I Microbiology Society, %X Despite the development of new vaccine formulations using new biotechnology resources to combat emerging and re-emerging diseases, serogroup B meningococcal disease is still a worldwide burden, accounting for many deaths and disabilities every year. The successful approach of coupling a polysaccharide (PS) with a carrier protein in order to increase long-lasting immunity could not be exploited against Neisseria meningitidis B because of the limitations of using the capsular PS of serogroup B meningococci. Tailor-made vaccines based on exposed proteins were shown to be a promising approach to overcome these flaws. However, the continuous adaptation of surface meningococcal structures to the external environment has led to genetic shifts of potential vaccine-target epitopes, hampering the quest for a broad-range vaccine that could be used against all serogroups, especially against serogroup B. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.011189-0