Anticorps Neisseria meningitidis (6171): sc-69940

Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative bacteria responsible for the illness bacterial meningitis. Residing within the nasopharyngeal tract of humans, Neisseria meningitidis does not affect any other animals. Responsible for the only form of meningitis to cause epidemics, different strains of Neisseria meningitidis are characterized by a polysaccharide expressed on its capsule. This capsular polysaccharide antagonizes a T-independent immune response, further eluding long term immunity by conferring neither memory cell formation nor antibody affinity maturation. Though bacterial meningitis begins as a "sick all over syndrome," it can quickly evolve from fever, headache and neck stiffness into coma and death. With mortality resulting in approximatly 10% of all cases, suspicion of meningitis warrants a medical emergency necessitating immediate medical assessment. Persons most susceptible to the infection are often immunocompromised, immunosuppressed or suffering from head trauma. Others acquire infection through close contact with a primary carrier.