Serum bactericidal antibody assays – The role of complement in infection and immunity. Issue 36 (26th August 2015) - McIntosh, E.D.G.
Highlights The accepted correlate of protection for meningococcal infection is the SBA assay. Complement is key for protecting against meningococcal disease. Selecting complement lacking strain specific antibodies is criticial for SBA assay. Complement for serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y assays is from humans or rabbits. rSBA is not used for serogroup B vaccine licensure due to anti-B PS IgM antibodies. Meningococci have proteins, for example fHbp, that bind human but not other species. Complement lacking human fH measures higher titres: the bacteria are more susceptible.