The immunopathogenesis of meningococcal disease
- Correspondence to: Dr A J Kvalsvig, Southmead Hospital, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK; meningitisproject{at}hotmail.com
- Accepted 26 November 2002
Abstract
This review describes the mechanisms of the immune response to meningococcal disease, examining the extent to which individual variation of the immune response can determine susceptibility. It concludes by summarising the difficulties encountered by recent efforts to develop new immunomodulatory treatments.
- BPI, bactericidal permeability inducing protein
- CSF, cerebrospinal fluid
- IL, interleukin
- LPS, lipopolysaccharide
- MBL, mannose (or mannan) binding lectin
- TLR, toll-like receptor
- TNF, tumour necrosis factor
