Factor H binding protein (FHbp): An evaluation of genotypic diversity across Neisseria meningitidis serogroups

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2024 Dec 31;20(1):2409502. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2409502. Epub 2024 Oct 10.

Abstract

Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, B, C, W, X, and Y cause invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) worldwide. Factor H binding protein (FHbp), a key meningococcal virulence factor, is an antigen included in both licensed meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) vaccines. This review examines the biology and epidemiology of FHbp and assesses the ability and potential of FHbp vaccine antigens to protect against IMD. Using evidence from the literature and the contemporary PubMLST database, we discuss analyses of MenB genotypes on the representation of the most prevalent multilocus sequence typing (MLST)/clonal complexes, FHbp subfamily distribution, and FHbp and porin A (PorA) variants. We further discuss that the similar genotypes, distribution, and diversity of FHbp variant types have remained stable over long time periods, supporting the potential for FHbp-containing, protein-based vaccines to protect against IMD, including MenB-FHbp (Trumenba®), which contains two lipidated FHbp antigens (one each from both FHbp subfamilies: A and B).

Keywords: Neisseria meningitidis; Vaccines; clonal complex; factor H binding protein; genotypic diversity; invasive meningococcal disease.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Bacterial* / genetics
  • Antigens, Bacterial* / immunology
  • Bacterial Proteins* / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins* / immunology
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Genotype*
  • Humans
  • Meningococcal Infections* / epidemiology
  • Meningococcal Infections* / microbiology
  • Meningococcal Infections* / prevention & control
  • Meningococcal Vaccines* / genetics
  • Meningococcal Vaccines* / immunology
  • Multilocus Sequence Typing
  • Neisseria meningitidis* / classification
  • Neisseria meningitidis* / genetics
  • Neisseria meningitidis* / immunology
  • Porins / genetics
  • Porins / immunology
  • Serogroup*

Substances

  • factor H-binding protein, Neisseria meningitidis
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Meningococcal Vaccines
  • Porins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Pfizer Inc. Editorial/medical writing support was provided by Tricia Newell, PhD, and James Currie, PhD, of ICON (Blue Bell, PA), and was funded by Pfizer Inc. Authors thank Professor Martin Maiden, Professor Angela Brueggemann, and Dr Keith Jolley for the development and management of PubMLST and Dr Paul Liberator for his review and early input into this project.