N. meningitidis fHbp

A bacterial surface lipoprotein that binds host (human) complement factor H (fH, gene CFH), binding contributes to the avoidance of complement-mediated lysis by N.meningitidis. Binding of fH to the bacteria surface is independent of bacterial sialic acid moieties.

Factor H binding protein (fHbp) that is exhibited in N. meningitidis and some commensal species is the main inhibitor of the alternative complement pathway. fHbp protects meningococci from complement-mediated death in human serum experiments, but has also been shown to protect meningococci from antimicrobial peptides in vitro. Factor H binding protein is key to the pathogenesis of N. meningitidis, and is, therefore, important as a potential vaccine candidate.