Recognition of meningococcal molecular patterns by innate immune receptors

The innate immune system plays an important role in mounting a protective immune response against invading pathogens. By presenting antigens to the acquired immune system and chaperoning the activation of B- and T-lymphocytes it determines the course of immune activation. Protective immunity against Neisseria meningitidis is rather well characterized and based on the presence of anti-meningococcal antibodies capable of activating the complement system. However, the activation patterns in innate immune cells that lead to the induction of these antibodies are only partially understood. In this review, bacterial factors and cellular receptors mediating the initial interaction of meningococci with cells of the innate immune system, such as dendritic cells, macrophages and neutrophils, are discussed.