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Frost KM, Charron-Smith SL, Cotsonas TC, Dimartino DC, Eisenhart RC, Everingham ET, Holland EC, Imtiaz K, Kornowicz CJ, Lenhard LE, Lynch LH, Moore NP, Phadke K, Reed ML, Smith SR, Ward LL, Wadsworth CB. Rolling the evolutionary dice: Neisseria commensals as proxies for elucidating the underpinnings of antibiotic resistance mechanisms and evolution in human pathogens. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0350723. [PMID: 38179941 PMCID: PMC10871548 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03507-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Species within the genus Neisseria are adept at sharing adaptive allelic variation, with commensal species repeatedly transferring resistance to their pathogenic relative Neisseria gonorrhoeae. However, resistance in commensals is infrequently characterized, limiting our ability to predict novel and potentially transferable resistance mechanisms that ultimately may become important clinically. Unique evolutionary starting places of each Neisseria species will have distinct genomic backgrounds, which may ultimately control the fate of evolving populations in response to selection as epistatic and additive interactions coerce lineages along divergent evolutionary trajectories. Alternatively, similar genetic content present across species due to shared ancestry may constrain existing adaptive solutions. Thus, identifying the paths to resistance across commensals may aid in characterizing the Neisseria resistome-or the reservoir of alleles within the genus as well as its depth. Here, we use in vitro evolution of four commensal species to investigate the potential and repeatability of resistance evolution to two antimicrobials, the macrolide azithromycin and the β-lactam penicillin. After 20 days of selection, commensals evolved resistance to penicillin and azithromycin in 11/16 and 12/16 cases, respectively. Almost all cases of resistance emergence converged on mutations within ribosomal components or the mtrRCDE efflux pump for azithromycin-based selection and mtrRCDE, penA, and rpoB for penicillin selection, thus supporting constrained adaptive solutions despite divergent evolutionary starting points across the genus for these particular drugs. Though drug-selected loci were limited, we do identify novel resistance-imparting mutations. Continuing to explore paths to resistance across different experimental conditions and genomic backgrounds, which could shunt evolution down alternative evolutionary trajectories, will ultimately flesh out the full Neisseria resistome.IMPORTANCENeisseria gonorrhoeae is a global threat to public health due to its rapid acquisition of antibiotic resistance to all first-line treatments. Recent work has documented that alleles acquired from close commensal relatives have played a large role in the emergence of resistance to macrolides and beta-lactams within gonococcal populations. However, commensals have been relatively underexplored for the resistance genotypes they may harbor. This leaves a gap in our understanding of resistance that could be rapidly acquired by the gonococcus through a known highway of horizontal gene exchange. Here, we characterize resistance mechanisms that can emerge in commensal Neisseria populations via in vitro selection to multiple antimicrobials and begin to define the number of paths to resistance. This study, and other similar works, may ultimately aid both surveillance efforts and clinical diagnostic development by nominating novel and conserved resistance mechanisms that may be at risk of rapid dissemination to pathogen populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly M. Frost
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Sierra L. Charron-Smith
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Terence C. Cotsonas
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Daniel C. Dimartino
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Rachel C. Eisenhart
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Eric T. Everingham
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Elle C. Holland
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Kainat Imtiaz
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Cory J. Kornowicz
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Lydia E. Lenhard
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Liz H. Lynch
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Nadia P. Moore
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Kavya Phadke
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Makayla L. Reed
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Samantha R. Smith
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Liza L. Ward
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Crista B. Wadsworth
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, New York, USA
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Belachew T, Assefa M, Tefera Z, Fenta A, Biset S. Colonization Rate and Associated Factors of Non-Pathogenic Neisseria Species, and Moraxella catarrhalis Among Healthy School Children in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. Infect Drug Resist 2023; 16:369-378. [PMID: 36714354 PMCID: PMC9879043 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s395343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although commensal Neisseria species inhabiting mucosal surfaces in the upper respiratory tract (URT) are rarely associated with infections, their presence in the area has been linked to the development of immunity against N. meningitidis and the source of antibiotic resistance determinants in pathogenic species. M. catarrhalis in the oropharynx of children is also a predisposing factor for otitis media. As a result, determining the oropharyngeal carriage rate of these commensal species and associated factors among healthy schoolchildren is substantial. Materials and Methods This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia, from January to April 2019. A multi-stage and simple random sampling technique were used to select schools and participants, respectively. A total of 524 oropharyngeal swabs were collected using cotton swabs. Modified Thayer-Martin media was used for primary bacterial isolation, and battery of biochemical tests was performed to identify species. For frequencies, descriptive statistics were computed and the logistic regression model was used to see the relationship between dependent and independent variables. Results A total of 524 healthy schoolchildren with a mean age of 12.2 ± 2.74 years participated in this study. The overall oropharyngeal carriage rate was 21.8% (114/524). Of these, N. meningitidis, N. lactamica, N. sicca, and M. catarrhalis were identified in 53 (46.5%), 14 (12.3%), 11 (9.6%), and 36 (31.6%) children, respectively. The culture positivity rate was higher at a younger age, which was 8.1%, 11.3%, and 14.9% in ages between 15-18, 11-14, and 7-10, respectively. The oropharyngeal carriage was significantly associated with the number of students per class (>40). Conclusion There is a higher proportion of carriers of commensal N. lactamica and M. catarrhalis in Gondar town schoolchildren. The oropharyngeal carriage rate was associated with a crowded classroom. The characterization of non-pathogenic Neisseria species and M. catarrhalis in the study area can support the diagnosis of patients suspected of having N. meningitis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teshome Belachew
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Muluneh Assefa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | | | | | - Sirak Biset
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia,Correspondence: Sirak Biset, Tel +251-911-598-568, Email
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Raisman JC, Fiore MA, Tomin L, Adjei JKO, Aswad VX, Chu J, Domondon CJ, Donahue BA, Masciotti CA, McGrath CG, Melita J, Podbielski PA, Schreiner MR, Trumpore LJ, Wengert PC, Wrightstone EA, Hudson AO, Wadsworth CB. Evolutionary paths to macrolide resistance in a Neisseria commensal converge on ribosomal genes through short sequence duplications. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262370. [PMID: 35025928 PMCID: PMC8758062 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria commensals are an indisputable source of resistance for their pathogenic relatives. However, the evolutionary paths commensal species take to reduced susceptibility in this genus have been relatively underexplored. Here, we leverage in vitro selection as a powerful screen to identify the genetic adaptations that produce azithromycin resistance (≥ 2 μg/mL) in the Neisseria commensal, N. elongata. Across multiple lineages (n = 7/16), we find mutations that reduce susceptibility to azithromycin converge on the locus encoding the 50S ribosomal L34 protein (rpmH) and the intergenic region proximal to the 30S ribosomal S3 protein (rpsC) through short tandem duplication events. Interestingly, one of the laboratory evolved mutations in rpmH is identical (7LKRTYQ12), and two nearly identical, to those recently reported to contribute to high-level azithromycin resistance in N. gonorrhoeae. Transformations into the ancestral N. elongata lineage confirmed the causality of both rpmH and rpsC mutations. Though most lineages inheriting duplications suffered in vitro fitness costs, one variant showed no growth defect, suggesting the possibility that it may be sustained in natural populations. Ultimately, studies like this will be critical for predicting commensal alleles that could rapidly disseminate into pathogen populations via allelic exchange across recombinogenic microbial genera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan C. Raisman
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Michael A. Fiore
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Lucille Tomin
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Joseph K. O. Adjei
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Virginia X. Aswad
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Jonathan Chu
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Christina J. Domondon
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Ben A. Donahue
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Claudia A. Masciotti
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Connor G. McGrath
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Jo Melita
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Paul A. Podbielski
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Madelyn R. Schreiner
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Lauren J. Trumpore
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Peter C. Wengert
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Emalee A. Wrightstone
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - André O. Hudson
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Crista B. Wadsworth
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Zhang Y, Deng X, Jiang Y, Zhang J, Zhan L, Mei L, Lu H, Yao P, He H. The Epidemiology of Meningococcal Disease and Carriage, Genotypic Characteristics and Antibiotic Resistance of Neisseria meningitidis Isolates in Zhejiang Province, China, 2011–2021. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:801196. [PMID: 35140696 PMCID: PMC8819144 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.801196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) remains a worldwide leading cause of epidemic meningitis. During 2011–July 2021, 55 meningococcal disease (MD) cases were reported with a case fatality rate of 5.45% in Zhejiang Province, China. The median age was 7 years. The annual incidence was 0.0017–0.0183 per 100,000 population. The highest age-specific incidence was observed in the group younger than 1 year. Serogroup was identified in 30 laboratory-confirmed MD cases, and MenB was most predominant. MenB was mainly observed in two age groups: younger than 5 and older than 35 years. MenB incidence was significantly increasing from 0.0018 per 100,000 in 2013 to 0.0070 per 100,000 in 2019. During 2015–2020, 17 positive samples were detected from 2,827 throat swabs from healthy population, of which 70.59% was MenB. Twenty multilocus sequence typing sequence types (STs) containing eight newly assigned STs (ST15881–ST15888) were determined in all Nm isolates. Either in MD cases or in healthy population, MenB CC ST-4821 was the predominant ST. It was worth noting that two MenY CC ST-23 cases occurred in 2019 and 2021, respectively. MenY CC ST-23 MD cases increased gradually in China. Phylogeny results based on genome sequencing indicated that Chinese MenW CC ST-11 isolates were genetically linked and grouped together with Japanese isolates, separated from MenW CC ST-11 isolates from Saudi Arabia Hajj outbreak, Europe, South Africa, South America, North America, and Oceania. MenW CC ST-11 isolates from East Asia might have evolved locally. Antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed a relatively high resistance rate (22.86%) of Nm isolates to penicillin. This study provided valuable data for Chinese public health authorities to grasp the temporal epidemiological characteristics of MD and healthy carriage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyi Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xuan Deng
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yan Jiang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Junyan Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Zhan
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lingling Mei
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hangjing Lu
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Pingping Yao
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Pingping Yao,
| | - Hanqing He
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
- Hanqing He,
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Kizil MC, Kilic O, Ceyhan M, Iseri Nepesov M, Karbuz A, Kurugol Z, Hacimustafaoglu M, Celebi S, Dinleyici M, Carman KB, Bayhan C, Balliel Y, Sutcu M, Kuyucu N, Kondolot M, Kara SS, Ocal Demir S, Cay U, Gayretli Aydin ZG, Kaya M, Dinleyici EC. Nasopharyngeal Meningococcal Carriage among Children and Adolescents in Turkey in 2018: An Unexpected High Serogroup X Carriage. CHILDREN-BASEL 2021; 8:children8100871. [PMID: 34682136 PMCID: PMC8534370 DOI: 10.3390/children8100871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Meningococcal carriage studies and transmission modeling can predict IMD epidemiology and used to define invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) control strategies. In this multicenter study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of nasopharyngeal Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) carriage, serogroup distribution, and related risk factors in Turkey. Nasopharyngeal samples were collected from a total of 1267 children and adolescents and were tested with rt-PCR. Nm carriage was detected in 96 participants (7.5%, 95% CI 6.1–9.0), with the peak age at 13 years (12.5%). Regarding age groups, Nm carriage rate was 7% in the 0–5 age group, was 6.9%in the 6–10 age group, was 7.9% in the 11–14 age group, and was 9.3% in the 15–18 age group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p > 0.05). The serogroup distribution was as follows: 25% MenX, 9.4% MenA, 9.4% MenB, 2.1% MenC, 3.1% MenW, 2.1% for MenY, and 48.9% for non-groupable. The Nm carriage rate was higher in children with previous upper respiratory tract infections and with a high number of household members, whereas it was lower in children with antibiotic use in the last month (p < 0.05 for all). In this study, MenX is the predominant carriage strain. The geographical distribution of Nm strains varies, but serogroup distribution in the same country might change in a matter of years. Adequate surveillance and/or a proper carriage study is paramount for accurate/dynamic serogroup distribution and the impact of the proposed vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmut Can Kizil
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir 26040, Turkey; (M.C.K.); (O.K.); (M.I.N.)
| | - Omer Kilic
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir 26040, Turkey; (M.C.K.); (O.K.); (M.I.N.)
| | - Mehmet Ceyhan
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06230, Turkey;
| | - Merve Iseri Nepesov
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir 26040, Turkey; (M.C.K.); (O.K.); (M.I.N.)
| | - Adem Karbuz
- Tascioglu City Hospital Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Istanbul 34000, Turkey;
| | - Zafer Kurugol
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir 35000, Turkey;
| | - Mustafa Hacimustafaoglu
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa 16059, Turkey; (M.H.); (S.C.)
| | - Solmaz Celebi
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa 16059, Turkey; (M.H.); (S.C.)
| | - Meltem Dinleyici
- Division of Social Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir 26040, Turkey;
| | - Kursat Bora Carman
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir 26040, Turkey;
| | - Cihangul Bayhan
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Gulhane Training and Research Hospital, Ankara 06300, Turkey;
| | - Yasemin Balliel
- Antalya Muratpaşa Çaybaşı No:1 Family Health Center, Antalya 07000, Turkey;
| | - Murat Sutcu
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Istanbul 34010, Turkey;
| | - Necdet Kuyucu
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin 33343, Turkey;
| | - Meda Kondolot
- Division of Social Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38039, Turkey;
| | - Soner Sertan Kara
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Aydin 09010, Turkey;
| | - Sevliya Ocal Demir
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul 34000, Turkey;
| | - Ummuhan Cay
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana 01330, Turkey;
| | - Zeynep Gokce Gayretli Aydin
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon 61080, Turkey;
| | | | - Ener Cagri Dinleyici
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ener Cagri Dinleyici, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir 26040, Turkey
- Correspondence:
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Clark SA, Gray S, Finn A, Borrow R. Colistin Sensitivity and Factor H-Binding Protein Expression among Commensal Neisseria Species. mSphere 2021; 6:e0017521. [PMID: 34133203 PMCID: PMC8265630 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00175-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Many bacterial carriage studies utilize colistin-containing media to select for Neisseria meningitidis among the diverse human pharyngeal milieu. These studies commonly report the isolation of Neisseria commensal species, with carriage rates of around 1% or less typically observed. Here, we describe the isolation of N. cinerea and N. polysaccharea from pharyngeal swabs using nonselective agar and confirm they are unable to grow on colistin-containing media. We also demonstrated colistin sensitivity among archived Neisseria commensal strains, including N. cinerea, N. polysaccharea, N. mucosa, and N. subflava. The distribution of lptA among these strains indicated that, while the phosphoethanolamine (PEA) transferase encoded by this gene confers colistin resistance, other mechanisms may lead to reduced susceptibility in some lptA-deficient strains. The majority of the N. cinerea and N. polysaccharea isolates expressed medium to very high levels of factor H-binding protein (fHbp), an important meningococcal vaccine antigen. Sequence analysis showed that the commensal fHbp peptide variants were similar in sequence to fHbp variants typically observed among invasive meningococci. Altogether, these results not only suggest that Neisseria commensal strains could be carried at much higher rates than previously reported but also raise questions about the impact of protein-based meningococcal vaccines on these unencapsulated commensals. IMPORTANCE This study highlights the need for further work to accurately determine the pharyngeal carriage prevalence of Neisseria commensal bacteria (e.g., N. cinerea and N. polysaccharea) among the general population. Previous studies have clearly demonstrated the suppressive effect these commensal species can have on meningococcal colonization, and so the carriage prevalence of these species could be an important factor in the spread of meningococci through the population. Furthermore, the surface expression of the meningococcal vaccine antigen factor H-binding protein by many of these commensal strains could have important implications for the use of fHbp-containing vaccines. Carriage of these commensal species may influence the immune response to these vaccines, or conversely, the immune response elicited by vaccination may induce clearance of these potentially important members of the pharyngeal niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A. Clark
- Meningococcal Reference Unit (MRU), Public Health England (PHE), Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Steve Gray
- Meningococcal Reference Unit (MRU), Public Health England (PHE), Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Finn
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Ray Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit (MRU), Public Health England (PHE), Manchester, United Kingdom
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Serra L, Presa J, Christensen H, Trotter C. Carriage of Neisseria Meningitidis in Low and Middle Income Countries of the Americas and Asia: A Review of the Literature. Infect Dis Ther 2020; 9:209-240. [PMID: 32242281 PMCID: PMC7237586 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-020-00291-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Meningococcal colonization, or carriage, can progress to invasive meningococcal disease, a serious public health concern, with rapid progression of disease and severe consequences if left untreated. Information on meningococcal carriage and epidemiology in low/middle income American and Asian countries remains sparse. These data are crucial to ensure that appropriate preventive strategies such as vaccination can be implemented in these regions. The goal of this study was to summarize the Neisseria meningitidis carriage literature in low and middle income countries of the Americas and Asia. METHODS Target countries were categorized as low and middle income according to the International Monetary Fund classification of low income/developing economies and middle income/emerging market economies, respectively. A PubMed search identified English-language publications that examined carriage in these countries. Studies reporting the epidemiology of N. meningitidis carriage or assessing risk factors for carriage were included. RESULTS Fourteen studies from the Americas [Brazil (n = 7), Chile (n = 3), and Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, and Paraguay (n = 1 each)] and nine from Asia [China (n = 2), India (n = 3), and Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, and Thailand (n = 1 each)] were identified; an additional Cuban study from the authors' files was also included. Studies were not identified in many target countries, and substantial diversity was observed among study methodologies, populations, and time periods, thereby limiting comparison between studies. The carriage rate in the Americas ranged from 1.6% to 9.9% and from 1.4% to 14.2% in Asia. Consistent risk factors for carriage were not identified. CONCLUSIONS There is a lack of comprehensive and contemporary information on meningococcal carriage in low and medium income countries of the Americas and Asia. Future carriage studies should incorporate larger representative populations, a wider age range, and additional countries to improve our understanding of meningococcal epidemiology and disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Serra
- Pfizer Vaccine Medical Development, Scientific and Clinical Affairs, Collegeville, PA, USA.
| | - Jessica Presa
- Pfizer Vaccines, Medical and Scientific Affairs, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - Hannah Christensen
- Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Clifton, UK
| | - Caroline Trotter
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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