流行性脑脊髓膜炎（流脑）是一个世界性公共卫生问题，发病率和死亡率都较高。此文从细菌遗传学特征、流脑的流行趋势、疫苗供应现状、可供选择的候选疫苗及其筛选方法等方面讨论了脑膜炎球菌疫苗（特别是B群脑膜炎球菌疫苗）的研究和开发现状。

 Meningococcal disease remains a major public health problem throughout the world, with associated high levels of morbidity and mortality. In this review, research and development of meningococcal vaccines and group B meningococcal vaccine in particular are discussed in the following aspects, including bacterial genetics, epidemic of meningococcal disease, vaccines supply, new candidate vaccines and new methods to identify meningococcal vaccine candidates.