Original article
English
Zorgani AA, Stewart J, Blackwell CC, Elton RA, Weir DM.
Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical School, Edinburgh, UK.
FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 1994 Aug;9(2):135-42.
Abstract
Carriage of Neisseria meningitidis B:4:P1.15 was higher among non-secretors during a school outbreak of meningitis; non-secretors had lower levels of anti-meningococcal salivary IgM. Flow cytometry was used to assess effects of secretor and non-secretor saliva on binding of B:4:P1.15 to buccal epithelial cells: (1) to assess inhibition by IgA and IgM; and (2) to assess contributions of salivary antibodies to inhibitory activities. Greater inhibition was obtained with secretor saliva: pooled (P = 0.049); fresh (P = 0.0001). Purified IgA (P = 0.02) and IgM (P = 0.03) were equally inhibitory. After absorption of anti-meningococcal antibodies, there was still significant inhibitory activity in the pools: secretors (P = 0.018); non-secretors (P = 0.005). These results indicate that both secretory immunoglobulins and other factors contribute to protection against colonisation by meningococci and might explain the increased carriage of B:4:1.15 in this population.
Keywords: Inhibitory effect of saliva from secretors and non-secretors on binding of meningococci to epithelial cells.
Link/DOI: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1574-695X.1994.tb00484.x