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Eriksson L, Johannesen TB, Stenmark B, Jacobsson S, Säll O, Hedberg ST, Fredlund H, Stegger M, Mölling P. Genetic variants linked to the phenotypic outcome of invasive disease and carriage of Neisseria meningitidis. Microb Genom 2023; 9:001124. [PMID: 37874326 PMCID: PMC10634450 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis can be a human commensal in the upper respiratory tract but is also capable of causing invasive diseases such as meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia. No specific genetic markers have been detected to distinguish carriage from disease isolates. The aim here was to find genetic traits that could be linked to phenotypic outcomes associated with carriage versus invasive N. meningitidis disease through a bacterial genome-wide association study (GWAS). In this study, invasive N. meningitidis isolates collected in Sweden (n=103) and carriage isolates collected at Örebro University, Sweden (n=213) 2018-2019 were analysed. The GWAS analysis, treeWAS, was applied to single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), genes and k-mers. One gene and one non-synonymous SNP were associated with invasive disease and seven genes and one non-synonymous SNP were associated with carriage isolates. The gene associated with invasive disease encodes a phage transposase (NEIS1048), and the associated invasive SNP glmU S373C encodes the enzyme N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphate (GlcNAC 1-P) uridyltransferase. Of the genes associated with carriage isolates, a gene variant of porB encoding PorB class 3, the genes pilE/pilS and tspB have known functions. The SNP associated with carriage was fkbp D33N, encoding a FK506-binding protein (FKBP). K-mers from PilS, tbpB and tspB were found to be associated with carriage, while k-mers from mtrD and tbpA were associated with invasiveness. In the genes fkbp, glmU, PilC and pilE, k-mers were found that were associated with both carriage and invasive isolates, indicating that specific variations within these genes could play a role in invasiveness. The data presented here highlight genetic traits that are significantly associated with invasive or carriage N. meningitidis across the species population. These traits could prove essential to our understanding of the pathogenicity of N. meningitidis and could help to identify future vaccine targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorraine Eriksson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Thor Bech Johannesen
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bianca Stenmark
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Susanne Jacobsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Olof Säll
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Sara Thulin Hedberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Hans Fredlund
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Marc Stegger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Paula Mölling
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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Eriksson L, Stenmark B, Deghmane AE, Thulin Hedberg S, Säll O, Fredlund H, Mölling P, Taha MK. Difference in virulence between Neisseria meningitidis serogroups W and Y in transgenic mice. BMC Microbiol 2020; 20:92. [PMID: 32295520 PMCID: PMC7160935 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-020-01760-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neisseria meningitidis serogroups W and Y are the most common serogroups causing invasive meningococcal disease in Sweden. The majority of cases are caused by the serogroup W UK 2013 strain of clonal complex (cc) 11, and subtype 1 of the serogroup Y, YI strain of cc23. In this study, virulence factors of several lineages within cc11 and cc23 were investigated in transgenic BALB/c mice expressing human transferrin. Transgenic mice were infected intraperitoneally with serogroup W and Y isolates. Levels of bacteria and the proinflammatory cytokine CXCL1 were determined in blood collected 3 h and 24 h post-infection. Apoptosis was investigated in immune cells from peritoneal washes of infected mice. Adhesion and induction of apoptosis in human epithelial cells were also scored. RESULTS The levels of bacteraemia, CXCL1, and apoptosis were higher in serogroup W infected mice than in serogroup Y infected mice. Serogroup W isolates also induced higher levels of apoptosis and adhesion in human epithelial cells. No significant differences were observed between different lineages within cc11 and cc23. CONCLUSIONS N. meningitidis Serogroup W displayed a higher virulence in vivo in transgenic mice, compared to serogroup Y. This was reflected by higher bacteremia, proinflammatory activity, and ability to induce apoptosis in mouse immune cells and human epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorraine Eriksson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
| | - Bianca Stenmark
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | | | - Sara Thulin Hedberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Olof Säll
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Hans Fredlund
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Paula Mölling
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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Säll O, Thulin Hedberg S, Neander M, Tiwari S, Dornon L, Bom R, Lagerqvist N, Sundqvist M, Mölling P. Etiology of Central Nervous System Infections in a Rural Area of Nepal Using Molecular Approaches. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 101:253-259. [PMID: 31162021 PMCID: PMC6609203 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The etiology of infections of the central nervous system (CNS) in Nepal often remains unrecognized because of underdeveloped laboratory facilities. The aim of this study was to investigate the etiology of CNS infections in a rural area of Nepal using molecular methods. From November 2014 to February 2016, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected from 176 consecutive patients presenting at United Mission Hospital in Tansen, Nepal, with symptoms of possible CNS infection. After the CSF samples were stored and transported frozen, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed in Sweden, targeting a total of 26 pathogens using the FilmArray® ME panel (BioFire, bioMerieux, Salt Lake City, UT), the MeningoFinder® 2SMART (PathoFinder, Maastricht, The Netherlands), and an in-house PCR test for dengue virus (DENV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), and Nipah virus (NiV). The etiology could be determined in 23%. The bacteria detected were Haemophilus influenzae (n = 5), Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 4), and Neisseria meningitidis (n = 1). The most common virus was enterovirus detected in eight samples, all during the monsoon season. Other viruses detected were cytomegalovirus (n = 6), varicella zoster virus (n = 5), Epstein–Barr virus (n = 3), herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 (HSV-1) (n = 3), HSV-2 (n = 3), human herpes virus (HHV) type 6 (HHV-6) (n = 3), and HHV-7 (n = 2). Cryptococcus neoformans/gatti was found in four samples. None of the samples were positive for DENV, JEV, or NiV. Of the patients, 67% had been exposed to antibiotics before lumbar puncture. In conclusion, the etiology could not be found in 77% of the samples, indicating that the commercial PCR panels used are not suitable in this setting. Future studies on the etiology of CNS infections in Nepal could include metagenomic techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olof Säll
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Sara Thulin Hedberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Marita Neander
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | | | | | - Rabin Bom
- United Mission Hospital Tansen, Tansen, Nepal
| | | | - Martin Sundqvist
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Paula Mölling
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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Thulin Hedberg S, Eriksson L, Demontis MA, Mölling P, Sundqvist M, Taylor G, Malm K, Andersson S. Droplet digital PCR for absolute quantification of proviral load of human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) types 1 and 2. J Virol Methods 2018; 260:70-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2018.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Jacobsson S, Stenmark B, Hedberg ST, Mölling P, Fredlund H. Neisseria meningitidis carriage in Swedish teenagers associated with the serogroup W outbreak at the World Scout Jamboree, Japan 2015. APMIS 2018. [PMID: 29543345 DOI: 10.1111/apm.12819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The aims of the study were to estimate the carrier state of Neisseria meningitidis in Swedish teenagers and its association with an outbreak at the World Scout Jamboree in 2015 as well as to compare sensitivity of throat versus nasopharyngeal swab for optimal detection of carriage. In total, 1 705 samples (cultures n = 32, throat swabs n = 715, nasopharyngeal swabs n = 958) from 1 020 Jamboree participants were collected and sent to the National Reference Laboratory for Neisseria meningitidis for culture and molecular analysis. The overall positivity for N. meningitidis was 8% (83/1 020), whereas 2% (n = 22) belonged to a known sero/genogroup while the majority (n = 61) were non-groupable. Throat sample is clearly the sampling method of choice, in 56 individuals where both throat and nasopharynx samples were taken, N. meningitidis was detected in both throat and nasopharynx in eight individuals, in 46 individuals N. meningitidis was only detected in the throat and in two individuals only in the nasopharynx. Carriage studies are important to provide knowledge of the current epidemiology and association between carrier isolates and disease-causing isolates in a given population. Therefore, planning for a carriage study in Sweden is in progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Jacobsson
- National Reference Laboratory for Neisseria meningitidis, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Bianca Stenmark
- National Reference Laboratory for Neisseria meningitidis, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Sara Thulin Hedberg
- National Reference Laboratory for Neisseria meningitidis, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Paula Mölling
- National Reference Laboratory for Neisseria meningitidis, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Hans Fredlund
- National Reference Laboratory for Neisseria meningitidis, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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Hedberg ST, Eriksson L, Malm K, Mölling P, Sundqvist M, Andersson S. Droplet Digital PCR for absolute quantification and determination of proviral load of HTLV-1 and 2. Retrovirology 2015. [PMCID: PMC4577806 DOI: 10.1186/1742-4690-12-s1-p71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Titov LP, Siniuk KV, Wollenberg KK, Unemo M, Hedberg ST, Glazkova SE, Lebedzeu FA, Nosava AS, Yanovich VO, Xirasagar S, Hurt D, Huyen Y. Evolutionary epidemiology of Neisseria meningitidis strains in Belarus compared to other European countries. Acta Microbiol Immunol Hung 2013; 60:397-410. [PMID: 24292084 DOI: 10.1556/amicr.60.2013.4.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Meningococcal infections are major causes of death in children globally. In Belarus, the incidence of cases and fatality rate of meningococcal infections are low and comparable to the levels in other European countries. AIM In the present study, the molecular and epidemiological traits of Neisseria meningitidis strains circulating in Belarus were characterized and compared to isolates from other European countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty N. meningitidis strains isolated from patients (n = 13) and healthy contacts (n = 7) during 2006–2012 in Belarus were selected for multilocus sequence typing (MLST), genosubtyping and FetA typing. TheSTs of the Belarusian strains were phylogenetically compared to the STs of 110 selected strains from 22 other European countries. RESULTS Overall, eleven different genosubtypes were observed, there were seven variants of variable region of the fet Agene detected. The majority of the STs (95%) found in Belarus were novel and allthose were submitted to the Neisseria MLST database for assignment. Several newly discovered alleles of fumC (allele 451) and gdh (allele 560 and 621) appeared to be descendants of alleles which are widespread in Europe, and single aroE alleles (602 and 603) occurred as a result of separate evolution. CONCLUSIONS N. meningitidis strains circulating in Belarus are heterogeneous and include sequence types, possibly, locally evolved in Belarus as well as representatives of widespread European hyperinvasive clonal complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonid P Titov
- Republic Research and Practical Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology 23 Filimonova street Minsk Belarus
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Hedberg ST, Olcén P, Fredlund H, Unemo M. Antibiotic susceptibility of invasive Neisseria meningitidis isolates from 1995 to 2008 in Sweden—the meningococcal population remains susceptible. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 42:61-4. [DOI: 10.3109/00365540903292682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Jacobsson S, Hedberg ST, Mölling P, Unemo M, Comanducci M, Rappuoli R, Olcén P. Prevalence and sequence variations of the genes encoding the five antigens included in the novel 5CVMB vaccine covering group B meningococcal disease. Vaccine 2009; 27:1579-84. [PMID: 19162117 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.12.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2008] [Revised: 12/19/2008] [Accepted: 12/28/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
During the recent years, projects are in progress for designing broad-range non-capsular-based meningococcal vaccines, covering also serogroup B isolates. We have examined three genes encoding antigens (NadA, GNA1030 and GNA2091) included in a novel vaccine, i.e. the 5 Component Vaccine against Meningococcus B (5CVMB), in terms of gene prevalence and sequence variations. These data were combined with the results from a similar study, examining the two additional antigens included in the 5CVMB (fHbp and GNA2132). nadA and fHbp v. 1 were present in 38% (n=36), respectively 71% (n=67) of the isolates, whereas gna2132, gna1030 and gna2091 were present in all the Neisseria meningitidis isolates tested (n=95). The level of amino acid conservation was relatively high in GNA1030 (93%), GNA2091 (92%), and within the main variants of NadA and fHbp. GNA2132 (54% of the amino acids conserved) appeared to be the most diversified antigen. Consequently, the theoretical coverage of the 5CVMB antigens and the feasibility to use these in a broad-range meningococcal vaccine is appealing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Jacobsson
- National Reference Laboratory for Pathogenic Neisseria, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Orebro University Hospital, SE-701 85 Orebro, Sweden.
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