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Yezli S, Yassin Y, Mushi A, Alabdullatif L, Alburayh M, Alotaibi BM, Khan A, Walsh L, Lekshmi A, Walker A, Lucidarme J, Borrow R. Carriage of Neisseria meningitidis among travelers attending the Hajj pilgrimage, circulating serogroups, sequence types and antimicrobial susceptibility: A multinational longitudinal cohort study. Travel Med Infect Dis 2023; 53:102581. [PMID: 37178946 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2023.102581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Travel to international mass gatherings such as the Hajj pilgrimage increases the risk of Neisseria meningitidis transmission and meningococcal disease. We investigated carriage and acquisition of N. meningitidis among travelers to Hajj and determined circulating serogroups, sequence types and antibiotic susceptibility among isolates. METHOD We conducted a multinational longitudinal cohort study among 3921 traveling pilgrims in two phases: Pre-Hajj and Post-Hajj. For each participant, a questionnaire was administered and an oropharyngeal swab was obtained. N. meningitidis was isolated, serogrouped, and subjected to whole genome sequence analysis and antibiotic susceptibility testing. RESULTS Overall carriage and acquisition rates of N. meningitidis were 0.74% (95%CI: 0.55-0.93) and 1.10% (95%CI: 0.77-1.42) respectively. Carriage was significantly higher Post-Hajj (0.38% vs 1.10%, p = 0.0004). All isolates were nongroupable, and most belonged to the ST-175 complex and were resistant to ciprofloxacin with reduced susceptibility to penicillins. Three potentially invasive isolates (all genogroup B) were identified in the Pre-Hajj samples. No factors were associated with Pre-Hajj carriage. Suffering influenza like illness symptoms and sharing a room with >15 people were associated with lower carriage Post-Hajj (adjOR = 0.23; p = 0.008 and adjOR = 0.27; p = 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSION Carriage of N. meningitidis among traveler to attending Hajj was low. However, most isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin used for chemoprophylaxis. A review of the current meningococcal disease preventive measures for Hajj is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saber Yezli
- The Global Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Scientific Computing Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Yara Yassin
- The Global Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz Mushi
- The Global Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lamis Alabdullatif
- The Global Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mariyyah Alburayh
- The Global Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Badriah M Alotaibi
- The Global Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anas Khan
- The Global Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lloyd Walsh
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Manchester, UK
| | - Aiswarya Lekshmi
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Manchester, UK
| | - Andrew Walker
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Manchester, UK
| | - Jay Lucidarme
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Manchester, UK
| | - Ray Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Manchester, UK
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2
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Vassey M, Firdaus R, Aslam A, Wheldon LM, Oldfield NJ, Ala’Aldeen DAA, Wooldridge KG. G1 Cell Cycle Arrest Is Induced by the Fourth Extracellular Loop of Meningococcal PorA in Epithelial and Endothelial Cells. Cell Microbiol 2023. [DOI: 10.1155/2023/7480033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis is the most frequent cause of bacterial meningitis and is one of the few bacterial pathogens that can breach the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The 37/67 kDa laminin receptor (LamR) was previously identified as a receptor mediating meningococcal binding to rodent and human brain microvascular endothelial cells, which form part of the BBB. The meningococcal surface proteins PorA and PilQ were identified as ligands for this receptor. Subsequently, the fourth extracellular loop of PorA (PorA-Loop4) was identified as the LamR-binding moiety. Here, we show that PorA-Loop4 targets the 37 kDa laminin receptor precursor (37LRP) on the cell surface by demonstrating that deletion of this loop abrogates the recruitment of 37LRP under meningococcal colonies. Using a circularized peptide corresponding to PorA-Loop4, as well as defined meningococcal mutants, we demonstrate that host cell interaction with PorA-Loop4 results in perturbation of p-CDK4 and Cyclin D1. These changes in cell cycle control proteins are coincident with cellular responses including inhibition of cell migration and a G1 cell cycle arrest. Modulation of the cell cycle of host cells is likely to contribute to the pathogenesis of meningococcal disease.
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Homenta H, Julyadharma J, Susianti H, Noorhamdani N, Santosaningsih D. Molecular Epidemiology of Clinical Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex Isolates in Tertiary Care Hospitals in Java and Sulawesi Islands, Indonesia. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7100277. [PMID: 36288018 PMCID: PMC9607243 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7100277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii)-calcoaceticus complex (CRAb-cc) is an important pathogen causing nosocomial infections worldwide; however, molecular epidemiology of the A. baumannii-calcoaceticus complex in Indonesian hospitals is scarce. This study aimed to determine the clonal relatedness of CRAb-cc in two tertiary care hospitals in Malang and Manado in Indonesia. The CRAb-cc isolates from routine clinical cultures in two tertiary care hospitals in Malang and Manado were identified using the Vitek2® system (bioMérieux, Lyon, France). Multi-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) typing, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), clonal complex (CC), and phylogenetic tree analysis were conducted for a subset of isolates. Seventy-three CRAb-cc isolates were collected. The CRAb-cc isolates were frequently found among lower-respiratory-tract specimens. We detected the MLVA type (MT) 1, MT3, and MT4 CRAB-cc isolates belonging to the sequence type (ST) 642, and CC1 was the predominant clone in this study. In conclusion, we identified the clonal relatedness of A. baumannii-calcoaceticus complex isolates in two tertiary care hospitals in Malang and Manado in Indonesia. Further study is required to investigate the clinical importance and distribution of ST642 in Indonesian hospitals for developing prevention and control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heriyannis Homenta
- Doctoral Program in Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, Indonesia
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado 95163, Indonesia
| | - Julyadharma Julyadharma
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital, Manado 95163, Indonesia
| | - Hani Susianti
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang 65145, Indonesia
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Dr. Saiful Anwar Hospital, Malang 65112, Indonesia
| | - Noorhamdani Noorhamdani
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang 65145, Indonesia
| | - Dewi Santosaningsih
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang 65145, Indonesia
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Dr. Saiful Anwar Hospital, Malang 65112, Indonesia
- Correspondence:
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4
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Gobin M, Hughes G, Foulkes S, Bagnall H, Trindall A, Decraene V, Edeghere O, Balasegaram S, Cummins A, Coole L. The epidemiology and management of clusters of invasive meningococcal disease in England, 2010-15. J Public Health (Oxf) 2021; 42:e58-e65. [PMID: 30942387 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdz028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Guidance for public health management of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in in England recommends the use of antibiotic chemoprophylaxis and vaccination. We summarized clinical and epidemiological data collected during routine management of IMD clusters in England. METHODS Data on epidemiology and operational decisions for public health management were reviewed for clusters between April 2010 and December 2015. RESULTS Clusters were generally 2-3 cases (53/58; 91%) within a single age band <18-years. Nurseries (n = 20, 34%), households/social networks (n = 14, 24%) and schools (n = 10, 17%) were the commonest settings. Chemoprophylaxis alone was used in 36 (58%) clusters, including most serogroup B clusters (31/41; 76%). Chemoprophylaxis and vaccination was used in a further 20 (32%) clusters. Vaccine was delivered promptly (<7 days). Four clusters had cases with onset post-chemoprophylaxis; no clusters recorded cases with onset post-vaccination. No pattern was observed between interventions and setting/population at risk, and interventions were consistent with national guidance. Challenges to management included logistical issues related to intervention delivery. CONCLUSIONS Public health management of IMD clusters presents challenges in decision-making and implementation of interventions. Nonetheless, few cases were observed following intervention. Responses were consistent with national guidance. A systematic data collection tool should be developed to support future evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Gobin
- Field Service, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Bristol BS1 6EH, UK
| | - Gareth Hughes
- Field Service, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Leeds LS1 4PL, UK
| | - Sarah Foulkes
- Field Service, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Birmingham B3 2PW, UK
| | - Helen Bagnall
- Field Service, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Birmingham B3 2PW, UK
| | - Amy Trindall
- Field Service, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Cambridge CB2 0SR, UK
| | - Valérie Decraene
- Field Service, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Liverpool L3 1DS, UK
| | - Obaghe Edeghere
- Field Service, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Birmingham B3 2PW, UK
| | - Sooria Balasegaram
- Field Service, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London SE1 6LH, UK
| | - Amelia Cummins
- Public Health England East of England, Cambridge CB21 5XA, UK
| | - Louise Coole
- Field Service, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Leeds LS1 4PL, UK
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Novel hypercapsulation RNA thermosensor variants in Neisseria meningitidis and their association with invasive meningococcal disease: a genetic and phenotypic investigation and molecular epidemiological study. THE LANCET MICROBE 2020; 1:e319-e327. [DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(20)30146-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
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Bennett DE, Meyler KL, Cafferkey MT, Cunney RJ. Diversity of meningococci associated with invasive meningococcal disease in the Republic of Ireland over a 19 year period, 1996-2015. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228629. [PMID: 32053601 PMCID: PMC7018037 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined the capsular phenotype and genotype of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD)-associated Neisseria meningitidis recovered in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) between 1996 and 2015. This time period encompasses both pre- (when IMD was hyperendemic in the RoI) and post- meningococcal serogroup C conjugate (MCC) vaccine introduction. In total, 1327 isolates representing over one-third of all laboratory-confirmed cases of IMD diagnosed each epidemiological year (EY), were characterised. Serogroups B (menB) and C (menC) predominated throughout, although their relative abundance changed; with an initial increase in the proportion of menC in the late 1990s followed by their dramatic reduction post-MCC vaccine implementation and a concomitant dominance of menB, despite an overall decline in IMD incidence. While the increase in menC was associated with expansion of specific clonal-complexes (cc), cc11 and cc8; the dominance of menB was not. There was considerable variation in menB-associated cc with declines in cc41/44 and cc32, and increases in cc269 and cc461, contributing to a significant increase in the clonal diversity of menB isolates over the study. This increase in diversity was also displayed among the serosubtyping data, with significant declines in proportions of menB isolates expressing p1.4 and p1.15 antigens. These data highlight the changing diversity of IMD-associated meningococci since 1996 in the RoI and emphasise the need for on-going surveillance particularly in view of the recent introduction of a menB vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Désirée E. Bennett
- Irish Meningitis and Sepsis Reference Laboratory, Children’s Health Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- * E-mail:
| | - Kenneth L. Meyler
- Irish Meningitis and Sepsis Reference Laboratory, Children’s Health Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mary T. Cafferkey
- Irish Meningitis and Sepsis Reference Laboratory, Children’s Health Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Robert J. Cunney
- Irish Meningitis and Sepsis Reference Laboratory, Children’s Health Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Children’s Health Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
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7
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Bratcher HB, Brehony C, Heuberger S, Pieridou-Bagatzouni D, Křížová P, Hoffmann S, Toropainen M, Taha MK, Claus H, Tzanakaki G, Erdôsi T, Galajeva J, van der Ende A, Skoczyńska A, Pana M, Vaculíková A, Paragi M, Maiden MC, Caugant DA. Establishment of the European meningococcal strain collection genome library (EMSC-GL) for the 2011 to 2012 epidemiological year. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 23. [PMID: 29790460 PMCID: PMC6152424 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2018.23.20.17-00474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Invasive meningococcal disease surveillance in Europe combines isolate characterisation and epidemiological data to support public health intervention. A representative European Meningococcal Strain Collection (EMSC) of IMD isolates was obtained, and whole genome sequenced to characterise 799 EMSC isolates from the epidemiological year July 2011-June 2012. To establish a genome library (GL), the isolate information was deposited in the pubMLST.org/neisseria database. Genomes were curated and annotated at 2,429 meningococcal loci, including those defining clonal complex, capsule, antigens, and antimicrobial resistance. Most genomes contained genes encoding B (n = 525; 65.7%) or C (n = 163; 20.4%) capsules; isolates were genetically highly diverse, with >20 genomic lineages, five of which comprising 60.7% (n = 485) of isolates. There were >350 antigenic fine-types: 307 were present once, the most frequent (P1.7-2,4:F5-1) comprised 8% (n = 64) of isolates. Each genome was characterised for Bexsero Antigen Sequence Typing (BAST): 25.5% (n = 204) of isolates contained alleles encoding the fHbp and/or the PorA VR1 vaccine component, but most genomes (n = 513; 64.2%) did not contain the NadA component. EMSC-GL will support an integrated surveillance of disease-associated genotypes in Europe, enabling the monitoring of hyperinvasive lineages, outbreak identification, and supporting vaccine programme implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly B Bratcher
- University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Carina Brehony
- Clinical Science Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Republic of Ireland.,University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Pavla Křížová
- National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Tímea Erdôsi
- National Center for Epidemiology, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | | | | | - Marina Pana
- National Institute of Research and Development for Microbiology and Immunology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alena Vaculíková
- Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Metka Paragi
- National Institute of Public Health, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Martin Cj Maiden
- University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, Oxford, United Kingdom
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8
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Epidemiological burden of meningococcal disease in Latin America: A systematic literature review. Int J Infect Dis 2019; 85:37-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2019.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
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Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis (the meningococcus) is a member of the normal nasopharyngeal microbiome in healthy individuals, but can cause septicemia and meningitis in susceptible individuals. In this chapter we provide an overview of the disease caused by N. meningitidis and the schemes used to type the meningococcus. We also review the adhesions, virulence factors, and phase variable genes that enable it to successfully colonize the human host. Finally, we outline the history and current status of meningococcal vaccines and highlight the importance of continued molecular investigation of the epidemiology and the structural analysis of the antigens of this pathogen to aid future vaccine development.
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10
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Whaley MJ, Joseph SJ, Retchless AC, Kretz CB, Blain A, Hu F, Chang HY, Mbaeyi SA, MacNeil JR, Read TD, Wang X. Whole genome sequencing for investigations of meningococcal outbreaks in the United States: a retrospective analysis. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15803. [PMID: 30361650 PMCID: PMC6202316 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33622-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Although rare in the U.S., outbreaks due to Neisseria meningitidis do occur. Rapid, early outbreak detection is important for timely public health response. In this study, we characterized U.S. meningococcal isolates (N = 201) from 15 epidemiologically defined outbreaks (2009-2015) along with temporally and geographically matched sporadic isolates using multilocus sequence typing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and six whole genome sequencing (WGS) based methods. Recombination-corrected maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian phylogenies were reconstructed to identify genetically related outbreak isolates. All WGS analysis methods showed high degree of agreement and distinguished isolates with similar or indistinguishable PFGE patterns, or the same strain genotype. Ten outbreaks were caused by a single strain; 5 were due to multiple strains. Five sporadic isolates were phylogenetically related to 2 outbreaks. Analysis of 9 outbreaks using timed phylogenies identified the possible origin and estimated the approximate time that the most recent common ancestor emerged for outbreaks analyzed. U.S. meningococcal outbreaks were caused by single- or multiple-strain introduction, with organizational outbreaks mainly caused by a clonal strain and community outbreaks by divergent strains. WGS can infer linkage of meningococcal cases when epidemiological links are uncertain. Accurate identification of outbreak-associated cases requires both WGS typing and epidemiological data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J Whaley
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sandeep J Joseph
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Adam C Retchless
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Cecilia B Kretz
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Amy Blain
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Fang Hu
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - How-Yi Chang
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sarah A Mbaeyi
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jessica R MacNeil
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Timothy D Read
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Xin Wang
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
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11
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Potential Coverage of the 4CMenB Vaccine against Invasive Serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis Isolated from 2009 to 2013 in the Republic of Ireland. mSphere 2018; 3:3/4/e00196-18. [PMID: 30135218 PMCID: PMC6106058 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00196-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The meningococcal antigen typing system (MATS) is an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that measures both the levels of expression and the immune reactivity of the three recombinant 4CMenB antigens. Together with PorA variable-region sequence data, this system provides an estimation of how susceptible MenB isolates are to killing by 4CMenB vaccine-induced antibodies. Assays based on subcapsular antigen phenotype analyses, such as MATS, are important in situations where conventional vaccine coverage estimations are not possible. Subcapsular antigens are typically highly diverse across strains, and vaccine coverage estimations would require unfeasibly large efficacy trials and screening of an exhaustive strain panel for antibody functional activity. Here, MATS was applied to all invasive meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) strains isolated over four consecutive epidemiological years (n = 105) and predicted reasonably high 4CMenB vaccine coverage in the Republic of Ireland. Neisseria meningitidis is a common cause of bacterial meningitis in children and young adults worldwide. The 4CMenB vaccine (Bexsero), developed to combat meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) disease, contains subcapsular antigens that may induce immunity against strains of N. meningitidis, regardless of serogroup. Owing to differential levels of expression and peptide diversity in vaccine antigens across meningococcal strains, the meningococcal antigen typing system (MATS) was developed to estimate the potential MenB strain coverage of 4CMenB. Prior to introducing the 4CMenB vaccine into routine use, we sought to estimate the potential 4CMenB coverage against invasive MenB strains isolated in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) over four consecutive epidemiological years. MATS was applied to a panel of 105 invasive MenB strains isolated during July 2009 to June 2013. Sequence data characterizing the multilocus sequence typing (MLST) alleles and the major 4CMenB target peptides were extracted from isolate genome sequence data, hosted in the Bacterial Isolate Sequencing database (BIGSdb). MATS data indicated that 4CMenB may induce protective immunity against 69.5% (95% confidence interval [CI95%], 64.8% to 84.8%) of circulating MenB strains. Estimated coverage was highest against the most prevalent disease-causing lineage, cc41/44, where the most frequently observed sequence types, ST-154 and ST-41 (21% of isolates, collectively), were typically covered by three antigens. No significant temporal trends were observed. Overall, these data provide a baseline of strain coverage prior to the introduction of 4CMenB and indicate that a decrease in invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is predicted following the introduction of 4CMenB into the routine infant immunization schedule in the RoI. IMPORTANCE The meningococcal antigen typing system (MATS) is an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that measures both the levels of expression and the immune reactivity of the three recombinant 4CMenB antigens. Together with PorA variable-region sequence data, this system provides an estimation of how susceptible MenB isolates are to killing by 4CMenB vaccine-induced antibodies. Assays based on subcapsular antigen phenotype analyses, such as MATS, are important in situations where conventional vaccine coverage estimations are not possible. Subcapsular antigens are typically highly diverse across strains, and vaccine coverage estimations would require unfeasibly large efficacy trials and screening of an exhaustive strain panel for antibody functional activity. Here, MATS was applied to all invasive meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) strains isolated over four consecutive epidemiological years (n = 105) and predicted reasonably high 4CMenB vaccine coverage in the Republic of Ireland.
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12
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Dick J, Hebling S, Becam J, Taha MK, Schubert-Unkmeir A. Comparison of the inflammatory response of brain microvascular and peripheral endothelial cells following infection with Neisseria meningitidis. Pathog Dis 2018; 75:3098218. [PMID: 28379411 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftx038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction of Neisseria meningitidis with both peripheral and brain endothelial cells is a critical event in the development of invasive meningococcal disease. In this study, we used in vitro models based on human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC), and peripheral endothelial EA.hy926 cells, to investigate their roles in the inflammatory response towards meningococcal infection. Both cell lines were infected with two pathogenic N. meningitidis isolates and secretion of the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), the CXC chemokine IL-8 and the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were estimated by ELISA. Neisseria meningitidis was able to stimulate the production of IL-6 and IL-8 by HBMEC and EA.hy926 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Interestingly, HBMEC released significant higher amounts of IL-6 and IL-8. Moreover, we observed that heat-killed bacteria stimulated high levels of IL-8. In addition, capsule expression had an inhibitory effect on IL-8 release. We extended our study and included serogroup C strains belonging to sequence type 11 clonal complex (cc) from a recent outbreak in France, as well as isolates belonging to the hypervirulent clonal complexes cc8, cc18, cc32 and cc269 and analyzed their ability to induce the secretion of IL-8 from both cell lines. Although individual variations were observed among different isolates, no clear correlations were observed between strain origin, clinical presentation and IL-8 levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Dick
- Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Julius-Maximilians University, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sabrina Hebling
- Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Julius-Maximilians University, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jérôme Becam
- Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Julius-Maximilians University, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Muhamed-Kheir Taha
- Institut Pasteur, Unit of Invasive Bacterial Infections, Paris 75015, France
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13
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Gianchecchi E, Piccini G, Torelli A, Rappuoli R, Montomoli E. An unwanted guest:Neisseria meningitidis– carriage, risk for invasive disease and the impact of vaccination with insight on Italy incidence. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2017; 15:689-701. [DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2017.1333422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Giulia Piccini
- VisMederi Srl, Siena, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Torelli
- VisMederi Srl, Siena, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Emanuele Montomoli
- VisMederi Srl, Siena, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Bayliss SC, Verner-Jeffreys DW, Bartie KL, Aanensen DM, Sheppard SK, Adams A, Feil EJ. The Promise of Whole Genome Pathogen Sequencing for the Molecular Epidemiology of Emerging Aquaculture Pathogens. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:121. [PMID: 28217117 PMCID: PMC5290457 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Aquaculture is the fastest growing food-producing sector, and the sustainability of this industry is critical both for global food security and economic welfare. The management of infectious disease represents a key challenge. Here, we discuss the opportunities afforded by whole genome sequencing of bacterial and viral pathogens of aquaculture to mitigate disease emergence and spread. We outline, by way of comparison, how sequencing technology is transforming the molecular epidemiology of pathogens of public health importance, emphasizing the importance of community-oriented databases and analysis tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sion C Bayliss
- The Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath Bath, UK
| | | | - Kerry L Bartie
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling Stirling, UK
| | - David M Aanensen
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College LondonLondon, UK; The Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Genome CampusCambridge, UK
| | - Samuel K Sheppard
- The Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath Bath, UK
| | - Alexandra Adams
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling Stirling, UK
| | - Edward J Feil
- The Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath Bath, UK
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15
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Serogroup and Clonal Characterization of Czech Invasive Neisseria meningitidis Strains Isolated from 1971 to 2015. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167762. [PMID: 27936105 PMCID: PMC5147975 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background This study presents antigenic and genetic characteristics of Neisseria meningitidis strains recovered from invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in the Czech Republic in 1971–2015. Material and Methods A total of 1970 isolates from IMD, referred to the National Reference Laboratory for Meningococcal Infections in 1971–2015, were studied. All isolates were identified and characterized by conventional biochemical and serological tests. Most isolates (82.5%) were characterized by multilocus sequence typing method. Results In the study period 1971–2015, the leading serogroup was B (52.4%), most often assigned to clonal complexes cc32, cc41/44, cc18, and cc269. A significant percentage of strains were of serogroup C (41.4%), with high clonal homogeneity due to hyperinvasive complex cc11, which played an important role in IMD in the Czech Republic in the mid-1990s. Serogroup Y isolates, mostly assigned to cc23, and isolates of clonally homogeneous serogroup W have also been recovered more often over the last years. Conclusion The incidence of IMD and distribution of serogroups and clonal complexes of N. meningitidis in the Czech Republic varied over time, as can be seen from the long-term monitoring, including molecular surveillance data. Data from the conventional and molecular IMD surveillance are helpful in refining the antimeningococcal vaccination strategy in the Czech Republic.
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16
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Brehony C, Rodrigues CMC, Borrow R, Smith A, Cunney R, Moxon ER, Maiden MCJ. Distribution of Bexsero® Antigen Sequence Types (BASTs) in invasive meningococcal disease isolates: Implications for immunisation. Vaccine 2016; 34:4690-4697. [PMID: 27521232 PMCID: PMC5012890 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Revised: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Serogroup B is the only major disease-associated capsular group of Neisseria meningitidis for which no protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccine is available. This has led to the development of multi-component protein-based vaccines that target serogroup B invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), including Bexsero®, which was implemented for UK infants in 2015, and Trumenba®. Given the diversity of meningococcal protein antigens, post-implementation surveillance of IMD isolates, including characterisation of vaccine antigens, is essential for assessing the effectiveness of such vaccines. Whole genome sequencing (WGS), as realised in the Meningitis Research Foundation Meningococcus Genome Library (MRF-MGL), provides a rapid, comprehensive, and cost-effective approach to this. To facilitate the surveillance of the antigen targets included in Bexsero® (fHbp, PorA, NHBA and NadA) for protective immunity, a Bexsero® Antigen Sequence Type (BAST) scheme, based on deduced peptide sequence variants, was implemented in the PubMLST.org/neisseria database, which includes the MRF-MGL and other isolate collections. This scheme enabled the characterisation of vaccine antigen variants and here the invasive meningococci isolated in Great Britain and Ireland in the epidemiological years 2010/11 to 2013/14 are analysed. Many unique BASTs (647) were present, but nine of these accounted for 39% (775/1966) of isolates, with some temporal and geographic differences in BAST distribution. BASTs were strongly associated with other characteristics, such as serogroup and clonal complex (cc), and a significant increase in BAST-2 was associated with increased prevalence of serogroup W clonal complex 11 meningococci. Potential coverage was assessed by the examination of the antigen peptide sequences present in the vaccine and epidemiological dataset. There were 22.8-30.8% exact peptide matches to Bexsero® components and predicted coverage of 66.1%, based on genotype-phenotype modelling for 63.7% of serogroup B isolates from 2010/14 in UK and Ireland. While there are many caveats to this estimate, it lies within the range of other published estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Brehony
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | | | - Ray Borrow
- Public Health England, Meningococcal Reference Unit, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, United Kingdom.
| | - Andrew Smith
- Scottish Haemophilus, Legionella, Meningococcus and Pneumococcus Reference Laboratory, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, United Kingdom; College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
| | - Robert Cunney
- Irish Meningitis and Meningococcal Reference Laboratory, Temple Street Children's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - E Richard Moxon
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | - Martin C J Maiden
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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17
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Pelton SI. The Global Evolution of Meningococcal Epidemiology Following the Introduction of Meningococcal Vaccines. J Adolesc Health 2016; 59:S3-S11. [PMID: 27449148 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Revised: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by Neisseria meningitidis is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Although IMD incidence is highest in infants, a second peak occurs in adolescents/young adults. The incidence of IMD and the predominant disease-causing meningococcal serogroups vary worldwide. Epidemiologic data have guided the development of meningococcal vaccines to reduce the IMD burden. In Europe, serogroup C IMD has been substantially reduced since the introduction of a serogroup C conjugate vaccine. Serogroup B predominates in Europe, although cases of serogroup Y IMD have been increasing in recent years. In the United States, declines in serogroup C and Y disease have been observed in association with the introduction of quadrivalent (serogroups ACWY) meningococcal conjugate vaccines; serogroup B persists and is now the most common cause of outbreak associated disease. In the African meningitis belt, a conjugate vaccine for serogroup A has been effective in decreasing meningitis associated with that serogroup. Outbreaks of the previously rare serogroup X disease have been reported in this region since 2006. In recent years, outbreaks of serogroup B IMD, for which vaccines have only recently been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency, have occurred in Europe and the United States. Targeting meningococcal vaccination to adolescents/young adults may reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with IMD and has the potential to impact the larger community through herd benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen I Pelton
- Maxwell Finland Laboratory for Infectious Diseases, Boston, Massachusetts.
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18
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Global Meningococcal Initiative: guidelines for diagnosis and confirmation of invasive meningococcal disease. Epidemiol Infect 2016; 144:3052-3057. [PMID: 27357022 PMCID: PMC5080665 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268816001308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The Global Meningococcal Initiative (GMI) is an international group of scientists and clinicians with recognized expertise in meningococcal disease including microbiology, immunology, epidemiology, public health and vaccinology. The GMI was established to promote the global prevention of meningococcal disease through education, research and international cooperation. The GMI held its second summit meeting in 2013 to discuss the different aspects of existing meningococcal immunization programmes and surveillance systems. Laboratory confirmation and characterization were identified as essential for informing evidence-based vaccine implementation decisions. The relative merits of different confirmatory methodologies and their applications in different resource settings were a key component of the discussions. This paper summarizes the salient issues discussed, with special emphasis on the recommendations made and any deficiencies that were identified.
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19
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Brehony C, Hill DM, Lucidarme J, Borrow R, Maiden MC. Meningococcal vaccine antigen diversity in global databases. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 20:30084. [PMID: 26676305 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2015.20.49.30084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The lack of an anti-capsular vaccine against serogroup B meningococcal disease has necessitated the exploration of alternative vaccine candidates, mostly proteins exhibiting varying degrees of antigenic variation. Analysis of variants of antigen-encoding genes is facilitated by publicly accessible online sequence repositories, such as the Neisseria PubMLST database and the associated Meningitis Research Foundation Meningococcus Genome Library (MRF-MGL). We investigated six proposed meningococcal vaccine formulations by deducing the prevalence of their components in the isolates represented in these repositories. Despite high diversity, a limited number of antigenic variants of each of the vaccine antigens were prevalent, with strong associations of particular variant combinations with given serogroups and genotypes. In the MRF-MGL and globally, the highest levels of identical sequences were observed with multicomponent/multivariant vaccines. Our analyses further demonstrated that certain combinations of antigen variants were prevalent over periods of decades in widely differing locations, indicating that vaccine formulations containing a judicious choice of antigen variants have potential for long-term protection across geographic regions. The data further indicated that formulations with multiple variants would be especially relevant at times of low disease incidence, as relative diversity was higher. Continued surveillance is required to monitor the changing prevalence of these vaccine antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Brehony
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, United Kingdom
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20
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Abstract
Rapid low-cost whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is revolutionizing microbiology; however, complementary advances in accessible, reproducible, and rapid analysis techniques are required to realize the potential of these data. Here, investigations of the genus Neisseria illustrated the gene-by-gene conceptual approach to the organization and analysis of WGS data. Using the gene and its link to phenotype as a starting point, the BIGSdb database, which powers the PubMLST databases, enables the assembly of large open-access collections of annotated genomes that provide insight into the evolution of the Neisseria, the epidemiology of meningococcal and gonococcal disease, and mechanisms of Neisseria pathogenicity.
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21
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Distribution of the type III DNA methyltransferases modA, modB and modD among Neisseria meningitidis genotypes: implications for gene regulation and virulence. Sci Rep 2016; 6:21015. [PMID: 26867950 PMCID: PMC4751487 DOI: 10.1038/srep21015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis is a human-specific bacterium that varies in invasive potential. All meningococci are carried in the nasopharynx, and most genotypes are very infrequently associated with invasive meningococcal disease; however, those belonging to the ‘hyperinvasive lineages’ are more frequently associated with sepsis or meningitis. Genome content is highly conserved between carriage and disease isolates, and differential gene expression has been proposed as a major determinant of the hyperinvasive phenotype. Three phase variable DNA methyltransferases (ModA, ModB and ModD), which mediate epigenetic regulation of distinct phase variable regulons (phasevarions), have been identified in N. meningitidis. Each mod gene has distinct alleles, defined by their Mod DNA recognition domain, and these target and methylate different DNA sequences, thereby regulating distinct gene sets. Here 211 meningococcal carriage and >1,400 disease isolates were surveyed for the distribution of meningococcal mod alleles. While modA11-12 and modB1-2 were found in most isolates, rarer alleles (e.g., modA15, modB4, modD1-6) were specific to particular genotypes as defined by clonal complex. This suggests that phase variable Mod proteins may be associated with distinct phenotypes and hence invasive potential of N. meningitidis strains.
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22
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Oldfield NJ, Harrison OB, Bayliss CD, Maiden MCJ, Ala'Aldeen DAA, Turner DPJ. Genomic Analysis of Serogroup Y Neisseria meningitidis Isolates Reveals Extensive Similarities Between Carriage-Associated and Disease-Associated Organisms. J Infect Dis 2016; 213:1777-85. [PMID: 26747709 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiw008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neisseria meningitidis is a frequent colonizer of the human nasopharynx, with asymptomatic carriage providing the reservoir for invasive, disease-causing strains. Serogroup Y (MenY) strains are a major cause of meningococcal disease. High-resolution genetic analyses of carriage and disease isolates can establish epidemiological relationships and identify potential virulence factors. METHODS Whole-genome sequence data were obtained for 99 MenY carriage isolates recovered in the United Kingdom during 1997-2010. Sequences were compared to those of 73 MenY invasive isolates recovered during 2010-2011, using a gene-by-gene approach. RESULTS Comparisons across 1605 core genes resolved 91% of isolates into one of 8 clusters containing closely related disease and carriage isolates. Six clusters contained carried meningococci isolated during 1997-2001, suggesting temporal stability. One cluster of isolates, predominately sharing the designation Y: P1.5-1,10-1: F4-1: ST-1655 (cc23), was resolved into one subcluster with 86% carriage isolates and a second with 90% invasive isolates. These subclusters were defined by specific allelic differences in 5 core genes encoding glycerate kinase (glxK), valine-pyruvate transaminase (avtA), superoxide dismutase (sodB), and 2 hypothetical proteins. CONCLUSIONS High-resolution genetic analyses detected long-term temporal stability and temporally overlapping carriage and disease populations for MenY clones but also evidence of a disease-associated clone.
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23
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Sanders H, Norheim G, Chan H, Dold C, Vipond C, Derrick JP, Pollard AJ, Maiden MCJ, Feavers IM. FetA Antibodies Induced by an Outer Membrane Vesicle Vaccine Derived from a Serogroup B Meningococcal Isolate with Constitutive FetA Expression. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0140345. [PMID: 26466091 PMCID: PMC4605655 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive meningococcal disease causes over 3500 cases each year in Europe, with particularly high incidence among young children. Among serogroup B meningococci, which cause most of the cases, high diversity in the outer membrane proteins (OMPs) is observed in endemic situations; however, comprehensive molecular epidemiological data are available for the diversity and distribution of the OMPs PorA and FetA and these can be used to rationally design a vaccine with high coverage of the case isolates. The aim of this study was to determine whether outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) derived from an isolate with constitutive FetA expression (MenPF-1 vaccine) could be used to induce antibodies against both the PorA and FetA antigens. The immunogenicity of various dose levels and number of doses was evaluated in mice and rabbits, and IgG antibody responses tested against OMVs and recombinant PorA and FetA proteins. A panel of four isogenic mutants was generated and used to evaluate the relative ability of the vaccine to induce serum bactericidal activity (SBA) against FetA and PorA. Sera from mice were tested in SBA against the four target strains. Results demonstrated that the MenPF-1 OMVs were immunogenic against PorA and FetA in both animal models. Furthermore, the murine antibodies induced were bactericidal against isogenic mutant strains, suggesting that antibodies to both PorA and FetA were functional. The data presented indicate that the MenPF-1 vaccine is a suitable formulation for presenting PorA and FetA OMPs in order to induce bactericidal antibodies, and that proceeding to a Phase I clinical trial with this vaccine candidate is justified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Sanders
- National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms, Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Gunnstein Norheim
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Division of Infectious Disease Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hannah Chan
- National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms, Potters Bar, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Christina Dold
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Vipond
- National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms, Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Jeremy P. Derrick
- Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J. Pollard
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ian M. Feavers
- National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms, Potters Bar, United Kingdom
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24
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Bosch T, Euser SM, Landman F, Bruin JP, IJzerman EP, den Boer JW, Schouls LM. Whole-Genome Mapping as a Novel High-Resolution Typing Tool for Legionella pneumophila. J Clin Microbiol 2015; 53:3234-8. [PMID: 26202110 PMCID: PMC4572561 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01369-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 07/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Legionella is the causative agent for Legionnaires' disease (LD) and is responsible for several large outbreaks in the world. More than 90% of LD cases are caused by Legionella pneumophila, and studies on the origin and transmission routes of this pathogen rely on adequate molecular characterization of isolates. Current typing of L. pneumophila mainly depends on sequence-based typing (SBT). However, studies have shown that in some outbreak situations, SBT does not have sufficient discriminatory power to distinguish between related and nonrelated L. pneumophila isolates. In this study, we used a novel high-resolution typing technique, called whole-genome mapping (WGM), to differentiate between epidemiologically related and nonrelated L. pneumophila isolates. Assessment of the method by various validation experiments showed highly reproducible results, and WGM was able to confirm two well-documented Dutch L. pneumophila outbreaks. Comparison of whole-genome maps of the two outbreaks together with WGMs of epidemiologically nonrelated L. pneumophila isolates showed major differences between the maps, and WGM yielded a higher discriminatory power than SBT. In conclusion, WGM can be a valuable alternative to perform outbreak investigations of L. pneumophila in real time since the turnaround time from culture to comparison of the L. pneumophila maps is less than 24 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thijs Bosch
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd M Euser
- Regional Public Health Laboratory Kennemerland, Haarlem, the Netherlands
| | - Fabian Landman
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Jacob P Bruin
- Regional Public Health Laboratory Kennemerland, Haarlem, the Netherlands
| | - Ed P IJzerman
- Regional Public Health Laboratory Kennemerland, Haarlem, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen W den Boer
- Regional Public Health Laboratory Kennemerland, Haarlem, the Netherlands
| | - Leo M Schouls
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
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25
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Marsay L, Dold C, Green CA, Rollier CS, Norheim G, Sadarangani M, Shanyinde M, Brehony C, Thompson AJ, Sanders H, Chan H, Haworth K, Derrick JP, Feavers IM, Maiden MC, Pollard AJ. A novel meningococcal outer membrane vesicle vaccine with constitutive expression of FetA: A phase I clinical trial. J Infect 2015; 71:326-37. [PMID: 25982025 PMCID: PMC4535279 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2015.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Revised: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccines are used against outbreaks of capsular group B Neisseria meningitidis (MenB) caused by strains expressing particular PorA outer membrane proteins (OMPs). Ferric enterobactin receptor (FetA) is another variable OMP that induces type-specific bactericidal antibodies, and the combination of judiciously chosen PorA and FetA variants in vaccine formulations is a potential approach to broaden protection of such vaccines. Methods The OMV vaccine MenPF-1 was generated by genetically modifying N. meningitidis strain 44/76 to constitutively express FetA. Three doses of 25 μg or 50 μg of MenPF-1 were delivered intra-muscularly to 52 healthy adults. Results MenPF-1 was safe and well tolerated. Immunogenicity was measured by serum bactericidal assay (SBA) against wild-type and isogenic mutant strains. After 3 doses, the proportion of volunteers with SBA titres ≥1:4 (the putative protective titre) was 98% for the wild-type strain, and 77% for the strain 44/76 FetAonPorAoff compared to 51% in the strain 44/76 FetAoffPorAoff, demonstrating that vaccination with MenPF-1 simultaneously induced FetA and PorA bactericidal antibodies. Conclusion This study provides a proof-of-concept for generating bactericidal antibodies against FetA after OMV vaccination in humans. Prevalence-based choice of PorA and FetA types can be used to formulate a vaccine for broad protection against MenB disease. MenB OMV vaccines' efficacy is strain-restricted by the variable antigen PorA. FetA is another variable antigen, but has iron-dependent expression. The combination of only a few PorA and FetA can induce broad-protection. A mutated OMV was created containing one PorA and one FetA. FetA induces bactericidal antibody response in addition to the PorA response in a Phase I trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Marsay
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, CCVTM, Churchill Lane, Oxford OX37LE, United Kingdom
| | - C Dold
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, CCVTM, Churchill Lane, Oxford OX37LE, United Kingdom
| | - C A Green
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, CCVTM, Churchill Lane, Oxford OX37LE, United Kingdom
| | - C S Rollier
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, CCVTM, Churchill Lane, Oxford OX37LE, United Kingdom.
| | - G Norheim
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, CCVTM, Churchill Lane, Oxford OX37LE, United Kingdom
| | - M Sadarangani
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, CCVTM, Churchill Lane, Oxford OX37LE, United Kingdom
| | - M Shanyinde
- Nuffield Department of Primary Health Care Sciences, Primary Care Clinical Trials Unit, University of Oxford, 23-38 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - C Brehony
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, United Kingdom
| | - A J Thompson
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, CCVTM, Churchill Lane, Oxford OX37LE, United Kingdom
| | - H Sanders
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - H Chan
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - K Haworth
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, CCVTM, Churchill Lane, Oxford OX37LE, United Kingdom
| | - J P Derrick
- Michael Smith Building, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - I M Feavers
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - M C Maiden
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, United Kingdom
| | - A J Pollard
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, CCVTM, Churchill Lane, Oxford OX37LE, United Kingdom
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26
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MATS: Global coverage estimates for 4CMenB, a novel multicomponent meningococcal B vaccine. Vaccine 2015; 33:2629-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Revised: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 04/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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27
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Seib KL, Scarselli M, Comanducci M, Toneatto D, Masignani V. Neisseria meningitidis factor H-binding protein fHbp: a key virulence factor and vaccine antigen. Expert Rev Vaccines 2015; 14:841-59. [PMID: 25704037 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2015.1016915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis is a leading cause of meningitis and sepsis worldwide. The first broad-spectrum multicomponent vaccine against serogroup B meningococcus (MenB), 4CMenB (Bexsero(®)), was approved by the EMA in 2013, for prevention of MenB disease in all age groups, and by the US FDA in January 2015 for use in adolescents. A second protein-based MenB vaccine has also been approved in the USA for adolescents (rLP2086, Trumenba(®)). Both vaccines contain the lipoprotein factor H-binding protein (fHbp). Preclinical studies demonstrated that fHbp elicits a robust bactericidal antibody response that correlates with the amount of fHbp expressed on the bacterial surface. fHbp is able to selectively bind human factor H, the key regulator of the alternative complement pathway, and this has important implications both for meningococcal pathogenesis and for vaccine design. Here, we review the functional and structural properties of fHbp, the strategies that led to the design of the two fHbp-based vaccines and the data generated during clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate L Seib
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4215, Australia
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28
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Sullivan CB, Diggle MA, Davies RL, Clarke SC. Clonal analysis of meningococci during a 26 year period prior to the introduction of meningococcal serogroup C vaccines. PLoS One 2015; 10:e115741. [PMID: 25615448 PMCID: PMC4304704 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 11/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Meningococcal disease remains a public health burden in the UK and elsewhere. Invasive Neisseria meningitidis, isolated in Scotland between 1972 and 1998, were characterised retrospectively to examine the serogroup and clonal structure of the circulating population. 2607 isolates causing invasive disease were available for serogroup and MLST analysis whilst 2517 were available for multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis only. Serogroup distribution changed from year to year but serogroups B and C were dominant throughout. Serogroup B was dominant throughout the 1970s and early 1980s until serogroup C became dominant during the mid-1980s. The increase in serogroup C was not associated with one particular sequence type (ST) but was associated with a number of STs, including ST-8, ST-11, ST-206 and ST-334. This is in contrast to the increase in serogroup C disease seen in the 1990s that was due to expansion of the ST-11 clonal complex. While there was considerable diversity among the isolates (309 different STs among the 2607 isolates), a large proportion of isolates (59.9%) were associated with only 10 STs. These data highlight meningococcal diversity over time and the need for ongoing surveillance during the introduction of new meningococcal vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher B. Sullivan
- Scottish Haemophilus, Legionella, Meningococcus and Pneumococcus Reference Laboratory, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Mathew A. Diggle
- Scottish Haemophilus, Legionella, Meningococcus and Pneumococcus Reference Laboratory, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- East Midlands Pathology, Clinical Microbiology Department, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Robert L. Davies
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart C. Clarke
- Scottish Haemophilus, Legionella, Meningococcus and Pneumococcus Reference Laboratory, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Whelan J, Bambini S, Biolchi A, Brunelli B, Robert–Du Ry van Beest Holle M. Outbreaks of meningococcal B infection and the 4CMenB vaccine: historical and future perspectives. Expert Rev Vaccines 2015; 14:713-36. [DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2015.1004317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Wang X, Shutt KA, Vuong JT, Cohn A, MacNeil J, Schmink S, Plikaytis B, Messonnier NE, Harrison LH, Clark TA, Mayer LW. Changes in the Population Structure of Invasive Neisseria meningitidis in the United States After Quadrivalent Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine Licensure. J Infect Dis 2015; 211:1887-94. [PMID: 25556253 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Meningococcal conjugate vaccines against serogroups A, C, W, and Y (MenACWY) are recommended for routine use in adolescents aged 11-18 years. The impact of these vaccines on the meningococcal population structure in the United States have yet to be evaluated. METHODS Meningococcal isolates recovered during 2006-2010 (ie, after introduction of MenACWY) collected through Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs) were characterized; serogroup distribution and molecular features of these isolates were compared to previously published data on ABCs isolates recovered from 2000 to 2005 (ie, before introduction of MenACWY). P values were generated using χ(2) statistics and exact methods. RESULTS There was a significant change (P < .05) in serogroup distribution among all age groups between the 2 periods. A small proportion of isolates showed evidence of capsular switching in both periods. Between the 2 periods, significant changes were observed in the distribution of porin A, ferric enterobactin transport, and strain genotypes among vaccine and nonvaccine serogroups. CONCLUSIONS The population structure of US meningococcal isolates is dynamic; some changes occurred over time, but the basic structure remained. Vaccine-induced serogroup replacement was not observed, although a small proportion of isolates had undergone capsule switching, possibly driven by non-vaccine-mediated selection. Changes in the distribution of molecular features are likely due to horizontal gene transfer and changes in serogroup distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Kathleen A Shutt
- Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Graduate School of Public Health, Pennsylvania
| | - Jeni T Vuong
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Amanda Cohn
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jessica MacNeil
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Susanna Schmink
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Brian Plikaytis
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Lee H Harrison
- Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Graduate School of Public Health, Pennsylvania
| | - Thomas A Clark
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Leonard W Mayer
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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Bratcher HB, Corton C, Jolley KA, Parkhill J, Maiden MCJ. A gene-by-gene population genomics platform: de novo assembly, annotation and genealogical analysis of 108 representative Neisseria meningitidis genomes. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:1138. [PMID: 25523208 PMCID: PMC4377854 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-1138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Highly parallel, 'second generation' sequencing technologies have rapidly expanded the number of bacterial whole genome sequences available for study, permitting the emergence of the discipline of population genomics. Most of these data are publically available as unassembled short-read sequence files that require extensive processing before they can be used for analysis. The provision of data in a uniform format, which can be easily assessed for quality, linked to provenance and phenotype and used for analysis, is therefore necessary. RESULTS The performance of de novo short-read assembly followed by automatic annotation using the pubMLST.org Neisseria database was assessed and evaluated for 108 diverse, representative, and well-characterised Neisseria meningitidis isolates. High-quality sequences were obtained for >99% of known meningococcal genes among the de novo assembled genomes and four resequenced genomes and less than 1% of reassembled genes had sequence discrepancies or misassembled sequences. A core genome of 1600 loci, present in at least 95% of the population, was determined using the Genome Comparator tool. Genealogical relationships compatible with, but at a higher resolution than, those identified by multilocus sequence typing were obtained with core genome comparisons and ribosomal protein gene analysis which revealed a genomic structure for a number of previously described phenotypes. This unified system for cataloguing Neisseria genetic variation in the genome was implemented and used for multiple analyses and the data are publically available in the PubMLST Neisseria database. CONCLUSIONS The de novo assembly, combined with automated gene-by-gene annotation, generates high quality draft genomes in which the majority of protein-encoding genes are present with high accuracy. The approach catalogues diversity efficiently, permits analyses of a single genome or multiple genome comparisons, and is a practical approach to interpreting WGS data for large bacterial population samples. The method generates novel insights into the biology of the meningococcus and improves our understanding of the whole population structure, not just disease causing lineages.
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Genetic diversity and levels of expression of factor H binding protein among carriage isolates of Neisseria meningitidis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e107240. [PMID: 25247300 PMCID: PMC4172500 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevention of meningococcal disease may be improved by recombinant vaccines such as 4CMenB and rLP2086 that target the factor H binding protein (fHbp), an immunogenic surface component of Neisseria meningitidis present as one of three variants. Whether such vaccines decrease carriage of invasive isolates and thus induce herd immunity is unknown. We analyzed the genetic diversity and levels of expression of fHbp among 268 carriage strains and compare them to those of 467 invasive strains. fhbp gene sequencing showed higher proportions of variants 2 and 3 among carriage isolates (p<0.0001). Carriage isolates expressed lower levels of fHbp (p<0.01) but that remain high enough to predict targeting by antibodies against fHbp particularly in group B isolates belonging to the frequent hypervirulent clonal complexes in Europe and North America (cc32, cc41/44, cc269). This suggests that fHbp targeting meningococcal vaccines might reduce, at least in part, the acquisition of some hyperinvasive isolates.
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Zhou H, Shan X, Sun X, Xu L, Gao Y, Li M, Shao Z. Clonal characteristics of invasive Neisseria meningitidis following initiation of an A + C vaccination program in China, 2005-2012. J Infect 2014; 70:37-43. [PMID: 25107632 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2014.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2014] [Revised: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To reveal the population structure of invasive Neisseria meningitidis isolates after the initiation of an A + C vaccination program in China. METHODS Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and PorA typing were used to characterize 238 invasive N. meningitidis isolates collected in China between 2005 and 2012. RESULTS During this period, sequence type (ST)-5, ST-4821 and ST-11 complexes were dominant among serogroups A, C and W, accounting for 100%, 98.5% and 100% of each serogroup, respectively. P1.20,9, P1.7-2,14 and P1.5,2 were the dominant PorA types of serogroups A, C and W, respectively. Serogroup B showed high genetic diversity with two dominant lineages: ST-4821 complex and ST-5662 subgroup. CONCLUSIONS The population of 238 invasive N. meningitidis isolates was primarily composed of a select group of recognized hypervirulent lineages. Among these clonal complexes, ST-7 serogroup A and ST-11 serogroup W are distributed globally, and other three clones exist only in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijian Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, and National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China; Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaoying Shan
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, and National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China; School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China; Jinan Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofang Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, and National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, and National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China; Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, and National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China; Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Machao Li
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, and National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China; Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhujun Shao
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, and National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China; Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
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Streptococcus suis, an important pig pathogen and emerging zoonotic agent-an update on the worldwide distribution based on serotyping and sequence typing. Emerg Microbes Infect 2014; 3:e45. [PMID: 26038745 PMCID: PMC4078792 DOI: 10.1038/emi.2014.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 437] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Revised: 04/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus suis is an important pathogen causing economic problems in the pig
industry. Moreover, it is a zoonotic agent causing severe infections to people in close
contact with infected pigs or pork-derived products. Although considered sporadic in the
past, human S. suis infections have been reported during the last 45 years, with
two large outbreaks recorded in China. In fact, the number of reported human cases has
significantly increased in recent years. In this review, we present the worldwide
distribution of serotypes and sequence types (STs), as determined by multilocus sequence
typing, for pigs (between 2002 and 2013) and humans (between 1968 and 2013). The methods
employed for S. suis identification and typing, the current epidemiological
knowledge regarding serotypes and STs and the zoonotic potential of S. suis are
discussed. Increased awareness of S. suis in both human and veterinary diagnostic
laboratories and further establishment of typing methods will contribute to our knowledge
of this pathogen, especially in regions where complete and/or recent data is lacking. More
research is required to understand differences in virulence that occur among S.
suis strains and if these differences can be associated with specific serotypes or
STs.
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Simonis A, Hebling S, Gulbins E, Schneider-Schaulies S, Schubert-Unkmeir A. Differential activation of acid sphingomyelinase and ceramide release determines invasiveness of Neisseria meningitidis into brain endothelial cells. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004160. [PMID: 24945304 PMCID: PMC4055770 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction with brain endothelial cells is central to the pathogenicity of Neisseria meningitidis infections. Here, we show that N. meningitidis causes transient activation of acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) followed by ceramide release in brain endothelial cells. In response to N. meningitidis infection, ASM and ceramide are displayed at the outer leaflet of the cell membrane and condense into large membrane platforms which also concentrate the ErbB2 receptor. The outer membrane protein Opc and phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C that is activated upon binding of the pathogen to heparan sulfate proteoglycans, are required for N. meningitidis-mediated ASM activation. Pharmacologic or genetic ablation of ASM abrogated meningococcal internalization without affecting bacterial adherence. In accordance, the restricted invasiveness of a defined set of pathogenic isolates of the ST-11/ST-8 clonal complex into brain endothelial cells directly correlated with their restricted ability to induce ASM and ceramide release. In conclusion, ASM activation and ceramide release are essential for internalization of Opc-expressing meningococci into brain endothelial cells, and this segregates with invasiveness of N. meningitidis strains. Neisseria meningitidis, an obligate human pathogen, is a causative agent of septicemia and meningitis worldwide. Meningococcal infection manifests in a variety of forms, including meningitis, meningococcemia with meningitis or meningococcemia without obvious meningitis. The interaction of N. meningitidis with human cells lining the blood vessels of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier is a prerequisite for the development of meningitis. As a major pathogenicity factor, the meningococcal outer membrane protein Opc enhances bacterial entry into brain endothelial cells, however, mechanisms underlying trapping of receptors and signaling molecules following this interaction remained elusive. We now show that Opc-expressing meningococci activate acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) in brain endothelial cells, which hydrolyses sphingomyelin to cause ceramide release and formation of extended ceramide-enriched membrane platforms wherein ErbB2, an important receptor involved in bacterial uptake, clusters. Mechanistically, ASM activation relied on binding of N. meningitidis to its attachment receptor, HSPG, followed by activation of PC-PLC. Meningococcal isolates of the ST-11 clonal complex, which are reported to be more likely to cause severe sepsis, but rarely meningitis, barely invaded brain endothelial cells and revealed a highly restricted ability to induce ASM and ceramide release. Thus, our results unravel a differential activation of the ASM/ceramide system by the species N. meningitidis determining its invasiveness into brain endothelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Simonis
- Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Sabrina Hebling
- Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Erich Gulbins
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Essen, Essen, Germany
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Implications of differential age distribution of disease-associated meningococcal lineages for vaccine development. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2014; 21:847-53. [PMID: 24695776 PMCID: PMC4054250 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00133-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
New vaccines targeting meningococci expressing serogroup B polysaccharide have been developed, with some being licensed in Europe. Coverage depends on the distribution of disease-associated genotypes, which may vary by age. It is well established that a small number of hyperinvasive lineages account for most disease, and these lineages are associated with particular antigens, including vaccine candidates. A collection of 4,048 representative meningococcal disease isolates from 18 European countries, collected over a 3-year period, were characterized by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Age data were available for 3,147 isolates. The proportions of hyperinvasive lineages, identified as particular clonal complexes (ccs) by MLST, differed among age groups. Subjects <1 year of age experienced lower risk of sequence type 11 (ST-11) cc, ST-32 cc, and ST-269 cc disease and higher risk of disease due to unassigned STs, 1- to 4-year-olds experienced lower risk of ST-11 cc and ST-32 cc disease, 5- to 14-year-olds were less likely to experience ST-11 cc and ST-269 cc disease, and ≥25-year-olds were more likely to experience disease due to less common ccs and unassigned STs. Younger and older subjects were vulnerable to a more diverse set of genotypes, indicating the more clonal nature of genotypes affecting adolescents and young adults. Knowledge of temporal and spatial diversity and the dynamics of meningococcal populations is essential for disease control by vaccines, as coverage is lineage specific. The nonrandom age distribution of hyperinvasive lineages has consequences for the design and implementation of vaccines, as different variants, or perhaps targets, may be required for different age groups.
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Kriz P, Wieffer H, Holl K, Rosenlund M, Budhia S, Vyse A. Changing epidemiology of meningococcal disease in Europe from the mid-20th to the early 21st Century. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 10:1477-86. [DOI: 10.1586/erv.11.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Khatami A, Pollard AJ. The epidemiology of meningococcal disease and the impact of vaccines. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 9:285-98. [DOI: 10.1586/erv.10.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Underwood AP, Jones G, Mentasti M, Fry NK, Harrison TG. Comparison of the Legionella pneumophila population structure as determined by sequence-based typing and whole genome sequencing. BMC Microbiol 2013; 13:302. [PMID: 24364868 PMCID: PMC3877988 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-13-302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Legionella pneumophila is an opportunistic pathogen of humans where the source of infection is usually from contaminated man-made water systems. When an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease caused by L. pneumophila occurs, it is necessary to discover the source of infection. A seven allele sequence-based typing scheme (SBT) has been very successful in providing the means to attribute outbreaks of L. pneumophila to a particular source or sources. Particular sequence types described by this scheme are known to exhibit specific phenotypes. For instance some types are seen often in clinical cases but are rarely isolated from the environment and vice versa. Of those causing human disease some types are thought to be more likely to cause more severe disease. It is possible that the genetic basis for these differences are vertically inherited and associated with particular genetic lineages within the population. In order to provide a framework within which to test this hypothesis and others relating to the population biology of L. pneumophila, a set of genomes covering the known diversity of the organism is required. Results Firstly, this study describes a means to group L. pneumophila strains into pragmatic clusters, using a methodology that takes into consideration the genetic forces operating on the population. These clusters can be used as a standardised nomenclature, so those wishing to describe a group of strains can do so. Secondly, the clusters generated from the first part of the study were used to select strains rationally for whole genome sequencing (WGS). The data generated was used to compare phylogenies derived from SBT and WGS. In general the SBT sequence type (ST) accurately reflects the whole genome-based genotype. Where there are exceptions and recombination has resulted in the ST no longer reflecting the genetic lineage described by the whole genome sequence, the clustering technique employed detects these sequence types as being admixed, indicating their mixed inheritance. Conclusions We conclude that SBT is usually a good proxy for the genetic lineage described by the whole genome, and therefore utility of SBT is still suitable until the technology and economics of high throughput sequencing reach the point where routine WGS of L. pneumophila isolates for outbreak investigation is feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony P Underwood
- Bioinformatics Unit, Microbiology Services (Colindale), Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ, UK.
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Wiringa AE, Shutt KA, Marsh JW, Cohn AC, Messonnier NE, Zansky SM, Petit S, Farley MM, Gershman K, Lynfield R, Reingold A, Schaffner W, Thompson J, Brown ST, Lee BY, Harrison LH. Geotemporal analysis of Neisseria meningitidis clones in the United States: 2000-2005. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82048. [PMID: 24349182 PMCID: PMC3861328 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2013] [Accepted: 10/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The detection of meningococcal outbreaks relies on serogrouping and epidemiologic definitions. Advances in molecular epidemiology have improved the ability to distinguish unique Neisseria meningitidis strains, enabling the classification of isolates into clones. Around 98% of meningococcal cases in the United States are believed to be sporadic. Methods Meningococcal isolates from 9 Active Bacterial Core surveillance sites throughout the United States from 2000 through 2005 were classified according to serogroup, multilocus sequence typing, and outer membrane protein (porA, porB, and fetA) genotyping. Clones were defined as isolates that were indistinguishable according to this characterization. Case data were aggregated to the census tract level and all non-singleton clones were assessed for non-random spatial and temporal clustering using retrospective space-time analyses with a discrete Poisson probability model. Results Among 1,062 geocoded cases with available isolates, 438 unique clones were identified, 78 of which had ≥2 isolates. 702 cases were attributable to non-singleton clones, accounting for 66.0% of all geocoded cases. 32 statistically significant clusters comprised of 107 cases (10.1% of all geocoded cases) were identified. Clusters had the following attributes: included 2 to 11 cases; 1 day to 33 months duration; radius of 0 to 61.7 km; and attack rate of 0.7 to 57.8 cases per 100,000 population. Serogroups represented among the clusters were: B (n = 12 clusters, 45 cases), C (n = 11 clusters, 27 cases), and Y (n = 9 clusters, 35 cases); 20 clusters (62.5%) were caused by serogroups represented in meningococcal vaccines that are commercially available in the United States. Conclusions Around 10% of meningococcal disease cases in the U.S. could be assigned to a geotemporal cluster. Molecular characterization of isolates, combined with geotemporal analysis, is a useful tool for understanding the spread of virulent meningococcal clones and patterns of transmission in populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann E. Wiringa
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Kathleen A. Shutt
- Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jane W. Marsh
- Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Amanda C. Cohn
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Nancy E. Messonnier
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Shelley M. Zansky
- New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, United States of America
| | - Susan Petit
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Monica M. Farley
- Emory University and VA Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Ken Gershman
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Ruth Lynfield
- Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Arthur Reingold
- University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - William Schaffner
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Jamie Thompson
- Oregon Public Health Division, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Shawn T. Brown
- Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Bruce Y. Lee
- Public Health Computational and Operations Research (PHICOR), University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Lee H. Harrison
- Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Campsall PA, Laupland KB, Niven DJ. Severe meningococcal infection: a review of epidemiology, diagnosis, and management. Crit Care Clin 2013; 29:393-409. [PMID: 23830646 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccc.2013.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus, is a relatively uncommon cause of invasive infection, but when it occurs it is frequently severe and potentially life threatening. Meningococcus should be considered and investigated promptly as a potentially etiologic pathogen in any patient with meningitis, or sepsis accompanied by a petechial rash. Suspected patients should receive early appropriate antimicrobial therapy concomitantly with confirmatory invasive diagnostic tests. Vaccines have reduced the incidence of infection with certain non-B meningococcal serogroups, and new serotype B vaccines are on the horizon. This article reviews the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of severe meningococcal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Campsall
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services, 3500 26th Avenue Northeast, Calgary, Alberta T1Y 6J4, Canada
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Barra GN, Araya PA, Fernandez JO, Gabastou JM, Hormazábal JC, Seoane M, Pidal PC, Valenzuela MT, Ibarz-Pavón AB. Molecular characterization of invasive Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated in Chile during 2010-2011. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66006. [PMID: 23776590 PMCID: PMC3679051 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2013] [Accepted: 05/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background With the upcoming licensure of Outer Membrane Protein-based vaccines against meningococcal disease, data on disease incidence and molecular characteristic of circulating N. meningitidis strains in Latin American countries is needed. Chile is, to date, one of the few countries in the region that has performed this type of work in a comprehensive collection of disease-associated strains from two consecutive years, 2010–2011. Methods A total of 119 N. meningitidis strains isolated from patients with invasive disease in Chile in 2010–2011 were characterized by the National Reference Laboratory. Serogroup determination, MLST and porA typing were performed. Results Serogroup B was predominant in both study years, but W135 experienced a noticeable increase in 2011 compared to 2010. ST-11 complex, ST-41/44 complex ST-32 complex were the most prevalent among the isolates, and were strongly associated with serogroups W135 (ST-11 Complex) and B (ST-41/44 and ST-32 complexes). Likewise, the major porA types detected were strongly associated with these three clonal complexes: P1.5,2 was found exclusively among W135:ST-11 isolates, whereas P1.7, 2–3 was only detected in C:ST-11. ST-41/44 isolates mainly had P1.10-8, and ST-32 complex were associated with a P1.18-8 porA. Conclusions Our data show disease-associated N. meningitidis circulating in Chile are similar to those found in other parts of the world. The increase on W135:ST-11 isolates observed in 2011 foretold the unusual epidemiological situation experienced in the country in 2012, and MLST data show that this strain is indistinguishable from the one linked to the global Hajj 2000-related outbreak that occurred in 2001. Finally, this work demonstrates the importance of maintaining a strong national surveillance program integrating clinical, epidemiological and laboratory data and incorporating gold standard diagnostic and characterization techniques that allow the data to be compared all over the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisselle N. Barra
- Sub-Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Public Health, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pamela A. Araya
- Section of Bacteriology, Institute of Public Health, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jorge O. Fernandez
- Sub-Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Public Health, Santiago, Chile
- * E-mail: (ABIP); (JF)
| | - Jean-Marc Gabastou
- Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | | | - Mabel Seoane
- Section of Bacteriology, Institute of Public Health, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paola C. Pidal
- Biomedical laboratory department, Institute of Public Health, Santiago, Chile
| | - Maria T. Valenzuela
- Biomedical laboratory department, Institute of Public Health, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ana Belén Ibarz-Pavón
- Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- * E-mail: (ABIP); (JF)
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Bambini S, Piet J, Muzzi A, Keijzers W, Comandi S, De Tora L, Pizza M, Rappuoli R, van de Beek D, van der Ende A, Comanducci M. An analysis of the sequence variability of meningococcal fHbp, NadA and NHBA over a 50-year period in the Netherlands. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65043. [PMID: 23717687 PMCID: PMC3663754 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2012] [Accepted: 04/26/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies of meningococcal evolution and genetic population structure, including the long-term stability of non-random associations between variants of surface proteins, are essential for vaccine development. We analyzed the sequence variability of factor H-binding protein (fHbp), Neisserial Heparin-Binding Antigen (NHBA) and Neisseria adhesin A (NadA), three major antigens in the multicomponent meningococcal serogroup B vaccine 4CMenB. A panel of invasive isolates collected in the Netherlands over a period of 50 years was used. To our knowledge, this strain collection covers the longest time period of any collection available worldwide. Long-term persistence of several antigen sub/variants and of non-overlapping antigen sub/variant combinations was observed. Our data suggest that certain antigen sub/variants including those used in 4CMenB are conserved over time and promoted by selection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jurgen Piet
- Academic Medical Center, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Wendy Keijzers
- Academic Medical Center, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- The Netherlands Reference Laboratory for Bacterial Meningitis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Arie van der Ende
- Academic Medical Center, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- The Netherlands Reference Laboratory for Bacterial Meningitis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail: (AVDE); (MC)
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Delany I, Rappuoli R, Seib KL. Vaccines, reverse vaccinology, and bacterial pathogenesis. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2013; 3:a012476. [PMID: 23637311 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a012476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Advances in genomics and innovative strategies such as reverse vaccinology have changed the concepts and approaches to vaccine candidate selection and design. Genome mining and blind selection of novel antigens provide a novel route to investigate the mechanisms that underpin pathogenesis. The resulting lists of novel candidates are revealing new aspects of pathogenesis of target organisms, which in turn drives the rational design of optimal vaccine antigens. Here we use the discovery, characterization, and exploitation of fHbp, a vaccine candidate and key virulence factor of meningococcus, as an illustrative case in point. Applying genomic approaches to study both the pathogen and host will ultimately increase our fundamental understanding of pathogen biology, mechanisms responsible for the development of protective immunity, and guide next-generation vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Delany
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Multi-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis for Clostridium botulinum type B isolates in Japan: comparison with other isolates and genotyping methods. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 16:298-304. [PMID: 23499776 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2012] [Revised: 02/18/2013] [Accepted: 02/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Clostridium botulinum produces botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) and causes botulism in humans and animals. Recently, 15-loci multi-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) for C. botulinum was developed for high-resolution and inter-lab comparative genotyping. This study examines the relation between MLVA and other genotyping methods such as pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), BoNT/B subtyping and bont/b gene location to evaluate MLVA as a method applicable to the genetic markers for C. botulinum type B. Japanese isolates were genotyped using MLVA and were compared with strains from other sources reported previously. Results show that the discriminatory power of MLVA was comparable to that of PFGE and higher than that of MLST. The topology of the minimum spanning tree (MST) constructed using MLVA data was very consistent with the phylogenetic classifications of PFGE and MLST. The MST topology also represented genetic diversity between the strains possessing bont/b gene on chromosomes and plasmids. Some Japanese isolates including those associated with infant botulism were inferred to be related to isolates of Europe origin from MLVA genotyping results. The MLVA scheme used for this study is apparently useful not only for high-resolution molecular typing, but also for phylogenetic characterization of C. botulinum type B.
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Saleem M, Prince SM, Rigby SEJ, Imran M, Patel H, Chan H, Sanders H, Maiden MCJ, Feavers IM, Derrick JP. Use of a molecular decoy to segregate transport from antigenicity in the FrpB iron transporter from Neisseria meningitidis. PLoS One 2013; 8:e56746. [PMID: 23457610 PMCID: PMC3574120 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2012] [Accepted: 01/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
FrpB is an outer membrane transporter from Neisseria meningitidis, the causative agent of meningococcal meningitis. It is a member of the TonB-dependent transporter (TBDT) family and is responsible for iron uptake into the periplasm. FrpB is subject to a high degree of antigenic variation, principally through a region of hypervariable sequence exposed at the cell surface. From the crystal structures of two FrpB antigenic variants, we identify a bound ferric ion within the structure which induces structural changes on binding which are consistent with it being the transported substrate. Binding experiments, followed by elemental analysis, verified that FrpB binds Fe3+ with high affinity. EPR spectra of the bound Fe3+ ion confirmed that its chemical environment was consistent with that observed in the crystal structure. Fe3+ binding was reduced or abolished on mutation of the Fe3+-chelating residues. FrpB orthologs were identified in other Gram-negative bacteria which showed absolute conservation of the coordinating residues, suggesting the existence of a specific TBDT sub-family dedicated to the transport of Fe3+. The region of antigenic hypervariability lies in a separate, external sub-domain, whose structure is conserved in both the F3-3 and F5-1 variants, despite their sequence divergence. We conclude that the antigenic sub-domain has arisen separately as a result of immune selection pressure to distract the immune response from the primary transport function. This would enable FrpB to function as a transporter independently of antibody binding, by using the antigenic sub-domain as a ‘molecular decoy’ to distract immune surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Saleem
- Michael Smith Building, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen M. Prince
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen E. J. Rigby
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Muhammad Imran
- Michael Smith Building, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Hema Patel
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Health Protection Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah Chan
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Health Protection Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Holly Sanders
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Health Protection Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Martin C. J. Maiden
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ian M. Feavers
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Health Protection Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Jeremy P. Derrick
- Michael Smith Building, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Vogel U, Taha MK, Vazquez JA, Findlow J, Claus H, Stefanelli P, Caugant DA, Kriz P, Abad R, Bambini S, Carannante A, Deghmane AE, Fazio C, Frosch M, Frosi G, Gilchrist S, Giuliani MM, Hong E, Ledroit M, Lovaglio PG, Lucidarme J, Musilek M, Muzzi A, Oksnes J, Rigat F, Orlandi L, Stella M, Thompson D, Pizza M, Rappuoli R, Serruto D, Comanducci M, Boccadifuoco G, Donnelly JJ, Medini D, Borrow R. Predicted strain coverage of a meningococcal multicomponent vaccine (4CMenB) in Europe: a qualitative and quantitative assessment. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2013; 13:416-25. [PMID: 23414709 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(13)70006-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 216] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A novel multicomponent vaccine against meningococcal capsular group B (MenB) disease contains four major components: factor-H-binding protein, neisserial heparin binding antigen, neisserial adhesin A, and outer-membrane vesicles derived from the strain NZ98/254. Because the public health effect of the vaccine, 4CMenB (Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Siena, Italy), is unclear, we assessed the predicted strain coverage in Europe. METHODS We assessed invasive MenB strains isolated mainly in the most recent full epidemiological year in England and Wales, France, Germany, Italy, and Norway. Meningococcal antigen typing system (MATS) results were linked to multilocus sequence typing and antigen sequence data. To investigate whether generalisation of coverage applied to the rest of Europe, we also assessed isolates from the Czech Republic and Spain. FINDINGS 1052 strains collected from July, 2007, to June, 2008, were assessed from England and Wales, France, Germany, Italy, and Norway. All MenB strains contained at least one gene encoding a major antigen in the vaccine. MATS predicted that 78% of all MenB strains would be killed by postvaccination sera (95% CI 63-90, range of point estimates 73-87% in individual country panels). Half of all strains and 64% of covered strains could be targeted by bactericidal antibodies against more than one vaccine antigen. Results for the 108 isolates from the Czech Republic and 300 from Spain were consistent with those for the other countries. INTERPRETATION MATS analysis showed that a multicomponent vaccine could protect against a substantial proportion of invasive MenB strains isolated in Europe. Monitoring of antigen expression, however, will be needed in the future. FUNDING Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Vogel
- University of Würzburg, Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Würzburg, Germany
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Pérez-Losada M, Cabezas P, Castro-Nallar E, Crandall KA. Pathogen typing in the genomics era: MLST and the future of molecular epidemiology. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 16:38-53. [PMID: 23357583 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2012] [Revised: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 01/15/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) is a high-resolution genetic typing approach to identify species and strains of pathogens impacting human health, agriculture (animals and plants), and biosafety. In this review, we outline the general concepts behind MLST, molecular approaches for obtaining MLST data, analytical approaches for MLST data, and the contributions MLST studies have made in a wide variety of areas. We then look at the future of MLST and their relative strengths and weaknesses with respect to whole genome sequence typing approaches that are moving into the research arena at an ever-increasing pace. Throughout the paper, we provide exemplar references of these various aspects of MLST. The literature is simply too vast to make this review comprehensive, nevertheless, we have attempted to include enough references in a variety of key areas to introduce the reader to the broad applications and complications of MLST data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Pérez-Losada
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.
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Huber CA, Pflüger V, Hamid AWM, Forgor AA, Hodgson A, Sié A, Junghanss T, Pluschke G. Lack of antigenic diversification of major outer membrane proteins during clonal waves of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A colonization and disease. Pathog Dis 2012; 67:4-10. [PMID: 23620114 DOI: 10.1111/2049-632x.12000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2012] [Revised: 08/17/2012] [Accepted: 08/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In particular in the 'meningitis belt' of sub-Saharan Africa, epidemic meningococcal meningitis is a severe public health problem. In the past decades, serogroup A lineages have been the dominant etiologic agents, but also other serogroups have caused outbreaks. A comprehensive vaccine based on subcapsular outer membrane proteins (OMPs) is not available. Here, we have investigated whether meningococcal populations overcome herd immunity by changing antigenic properties of their OMPs. Meningococcal isolates were collected in the context of longitudinal studies in Ghana between 2002 and 2008 and in Burkina Faso between 2006 and 2007. Serogroup A strains isolated during two clonal waves of colonization and disease showed no diversification in the genes encoding their PorA, PorB, and FetA proteins. However, we detected occasional allelic exchange of opa genes, as well as wide variation in the number of intragenic tandem repeats, showing that phase variation of Opa protein expression is a frequent event. Altogether we observed a remarkable antigenic stability of the PorA, PorB and FetA proteins over years. Our results indicate that while herd immunity may be responsible for the disappearance of meningococcal clones over time, it is not a strong driving force for antigenic diversification of the major OMPs analyzed here.
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50
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Hellenbrand W, Elias J, Wichmann O, Dehnert M, Frosch M, Vogel U. Epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease in Germany, 2002-2010, and impact of vaccination with meningococcal C conjugate vaccine. J Infect 2012; 66:48-56. [PMID: 23043893 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2012.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2012] [Revised: 09/04/2012] [Accepted: 09/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To analyse serogroup (Sg)- and finetype-specific invasive meningococcal disease burden (IMD) in Germany, 2002-2010, with emphasis on effects of vaccination with conjugate SgC vaccines targeting one-year old children since 2006, including individual-based catch-up to 17 years of age. METHODS Serogroup- and age-specific IMD incidence and trends were calculated using statutory surveillance data. The national reference laboratory performed genetic finetyping. Vaccination uptake data were obtained from school entry surveys and prescription monitoring. RESULTS In persons <25 years, SgB and SgC IMD incidence decreased significantly from 0.63 to 0.32/100,000 and 0.26 to 0.10/100,000, respectively. The decline was significantly steeper for SgC than SgB in 1-5 year-olds, the primary vaccination target group, but not other ages. The slope of the SgC incidence curves was similar before and after vaccination implementation in all age groups; however, the decrease in incidence was steeper in states with higher vaccination uptake. Declining SgC incidence was associated with decreased SgC finetype diversity. An increase in SgY incidence was limited to adults. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest effects of the German SgC vaccination strategy are limited, although interpretation is complicated by already low and decreasing incidence before vaccination. More effective use of vaccination resources might be achieved by rigorously targeting adolescents in addition to 1-year-olds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Hellenbrand
- Immunization Unit, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
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