Factor H binding protein (also known as GNA1870) is a surface exposed lipoprotein in Neisseria meningitidis that is a potent antigen and a potential candidate for a vaccine against meningococcal disease [1,2,3]. The structure of the N-terminal domain consists of a more unusual taco-shaped beta-barrel fold characterised by higher intrinsic flexibility than the C-terminal one [4].

1: Two human antibodies to a meningococcal serogroup B vaccine antigen enhance binding of complement Factor H by stabilizing the Factor H binding site. Sands NA, Beernink PT; PLoS Pathog. 2021;17:e1009655. PMID:34125873

2: Design and evaluation of meningococcal vaccines through structure-based modification of host and pathogen molecules. Johnson S, Tan L, van der Veen S, Caesar J, Goicoechea De Jorge E, Harding RJ, Bai X, Exley RM, Ward PN, Ruivo N, Trivedi K, Cumber E, Jones R, Newham L, Staunton D, Ufret-Vincenty R, Borrow R, Pickering MC, Lea SM, Tang CM; PLoS Pathog. 2012;8:e1002981. PMID:23133374

3: Structure of the uncomplexed Neisseria meningitidis factor H-binding protein fHbp (rLP2086). Cendron L, Veggi D, Girardi E, Zanotti G; Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2011;67:531-535. PMID:21543855

4: Cocrystal structure of meningococcal factor H binding protein variant 3 reveals a new crossprotective epitope recognized by human mAb 1E6. Bianchi F, Veggi D, Santini L, Buricchi F, Bartolini E, Lo Surdo P, Martinelli M, Finco O, Masignani V, Bottomley MJ, Maione D, Cozzi R; FASEB J. 2019;33:12099-12111. PMID:31442074