Meningococcal Disease

Recent findings from F. Fransen and co-authors highlight research in meningococcal disease

Published in TB and Outbreaks Week, July 21st, 2009

"Neisseria meningitidis is a major cause of bacterial meningitis and sepsis worldwide. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a major component of the Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane, is sensed by mammalian cells through Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), resulting in activation of proinflammatory cytokine pathways," investigators in Bilthoven, Netherlands report.

"TLR4 recognizes the lipid A moiety of the LPS molecule, and the chemical composition of the lipid A determines how well it is recognized by TLR4. N. meningitidis has been reported to produce lipid A with six acyl chains, the optimal number for TLR4 recognition. Indeed, meningococcal sepsis is generally seen as the...

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Source: TB and Outbreaks Week (2009-07-21)

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