ABSTRACT
An improved detergent-free process has been developed to produce vaccine based on native outer membrane vesicles (NOMV) against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B. Performance was evaluated with the NonaMen vaccine concept, which provides broad coverage based on nine distinct PorA antigens. Scalable aseptic equipment was implemented, replacing undesirable steps like ultracentrifugation, inactivation with phenol, and the use of preservatives. The resulting process is more consistent and gives a higher yield than published reference processes, enabling NOMV production at commercial scale. Product quality met preliminary specifications for 9 consecutive batches, and an ongoing study confirmed real-time stability up to 12 months after production. As the NOMV had low endotoxic activity and induced high bactericidal titres in mice, they are expected to be safe and effective in humans. The production process is not limited to NonaMen and may be applicable for other N. meningitidis serogroups and other gram-negative pathogens. The current results therefore facilitate the late-stage development and clinical evaluation of NOMV vaccines.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/immunology , Meningococcal Vaccines/biosynthesis , Neisseria meningitidis/immunology , Animals , Batch Cell Culture Techniques/methods , Bioreactors , Humans , Meningococcal Vaccines/isolation & purification , Meningococcal Vaccines/standards , Mice , Porins/immunology , Quality Control , RabbitsABSTRACT
Safety requirements stipulate the performance of the in vivo Histamine Sensitization (HS) test for quality control of acellular pertussis (aP) vaccines. For reasons of reproducibility and animal welfare concern, an in vitro assay was developed. The assay reflects the mechanism of histamine sensitization and is based on cAMP production in A10 cells to residual pertussis toxin (PT). We showed that PT induces cAMP levels in a dose-dependent manner while the sensitivity of the assay equals the sensitivity of the HS test. Neither the individual components nor the combination vaccine DTaP-IP did affect the assay. The cAMP assay meets the criteria for specificity and sensitivity and therefore might be a promising candidate to replace the HS test.
