Of the four main main strains of Neisseria meningitidis , only one strain - Meningitis B - has no vaccine, due to the variety and change in sub-types It is caused by the bacteria infecting the meningise around the brain and spinal cord. It can also lead to septicaemia. Typically:

• 10% of infections result in death
• 15-30% of infections leads to long term disability, including deafness, amputations and mental retardation.

Cluster outbreaks only account for around 5% of cases (though a particularly severe outbreak started in New Zealand in 1991 and has led to around 300 deaths pa ever since). Around 10% of the populations (but 25% of teenagers) carry the bacteria in the pharynx and for unknown reason, a percentage (typically 0.5-1.5 per 100,000 of the population) develop meningitis. Incidence is very high in infants.

IV antibiotics may clear infection and avoid disability if initiated early. However, only non-specific symptoms are initially evident and infection progresses rapidly - typically death is within 24 -36 hours of first symptoms. In infants, it can be particularly difficult to identify symptoms of meningitis early. In the UK, the mortality rate is around 300 pa.

Cuba and New Zealand have developed products for the specific MenB sub-types prevalent in their respective countries but (eg) the UK has 7 common sub-types and there are no vaccines available.

With HspCs offering a powerful new approach for a vaccine, with broad, cross-strain protection, ImmBio is collaborating with the Meningitis Research Group within the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Bristol.