Patent ID: 7063949

Claim:
A method for identifying a molecular mimetic of a unique epitope of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB), said method comprising: (a) providing a library of molecules comprising a putative molecular mimetic of a unique epitope of MenB, wherein said library of molecules is selected from the group consisting of a peptoid library, a peptide library and a phage-display library; (b) contacting said library of molecules with an isolated antibody immunologically reactive with an N-acyl-substituted Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B capsular polysaccharide, wherein said antibody is not autoreactive with Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B capsular polysaccharide as determined by measuring the ability of said antibody to react with human neuroblastoma cell line CHP-134, under conditions that allow immunological binding between said antibody and said molecular mimetic, if present, to provide a complex; and (c) separating the complex from non-bound molecules; and (d) identifying the molecular mimetic present in the complex.