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Podda M, Bonechi S, Palladino A, Scaramuzzino M, Brozzi A, Roma G, Muzzi A, Priami C, Sîrbu A, Bodini M. Classification of Neisseria meningitidis genomes with a bag-of-words approach and machine learning. iScience 2024; 27:109257. [PMID: 38439962 PMCID: PMC10910294 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Whole genome sequencing of bacteria is important to enable strain classification. Using entire genomes as an input to machine learning (ML) models would allow rapid classification of strains while using information from multiple genetic elements. We developed a "bag-of-words" approach to encode, using SentencePiece or k-mer tokenization, entire bacterial genomes and analyze these with ML. Initial model selection identified SentencePiece with 8,000 and 32,000 words as the best approach for genome tokenization. We then classified in Neisseria meningitidis genomes the capsule B group genotype with 99.6% accuracy and the multifactor invasive phenotype with 90.2% accuracy, in an independent test set. Subsequently, in silico knockouts of 2,808 genes confirmed that the ML model predictions aligned with our current understanding of the underlying biology. To our knowledge, this is the first ML method using entire bacterial genomes to classify strains and identify genes considered relevant by the classifier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Podda
- Vaccines Discovery Data Sciences, GSK Vaccines, GSK, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Simone Bonechi
- Vaccines Discovery Data Sciences, GSK Vaccines, GSK, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Department of Computer Science, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Palladino
- Vaccines Discovery Data Sciences, GSK Vaccines, GSK, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Brozzi
- Vaccines Discovery Data Sciences, GSK Vaccines, GSK, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Roma
- Vaccines Discovery Data Sciences, GSK Vaccines, GSK, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Muzzi
- Vaccines Discovery Data Sciences, GSK Vaccines, GSK, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Corrado Priami
- Department of Computer Science, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alina Sîrbu
- Department of Computer Science, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Margherita Bodini
- Vaccines Discovery Data Sciences, GSK Vaccines, GSK, 53100 Siena, Italy
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2
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Leong LE, Coldbeck-Shackley RC, McMillan M, Bratcher HB, Turra M, Lawrence A, Kahler C, Maiden MC, Rogers GB, Marshall H. The genomic epidemiology of Neisseria meningitidis carriage from a randomised controlled trial of 4CMenB vaccination in an asymptomatic adolescent population. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. WESTERN PACIFIC 2024; 43:100966. [PMID: 38169944 PMCID: PMC10758868 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Background Oropharyngeal carriage of Neisseria meningitidis is frequent during adolescence, representing a major source of invasive meningococcal disease. This study examined the impact of a serogroup B vaccination (Bexsero, GSK 4CMenB) programme on adolescent N. meningitidis carriage using genomic data. Methods A total 34,489 oropharyngeal samples were collected as part of a state-wide cluster randomised-controlled trial in South Australia during 2017 and 2018 (NCT03089086). Samples were screened for the presence of N. meningitidis DNA by porA PCR prior to culture. Whole genome sequencing was performed on all 1772 N. meningitidis culture isolates and their genomes were analysed. Findings Unencapsulated meningococci were predominant at baseline (36.3% of isolates), followed by MenB (31.0%), and MenY (20.5%). Most MenB were ST-6058 from hyperinvasive cc41/44, or ST-32 and ST-2870 from cc32. For MenY, ST-23 and ST-1655 from cc23 were prevalent. Meningococcal carriage was mostly unchanged due to the vaccination programme; however, a significant reduction in ST-53 capsule-null meningococci prevalence was observed in 2018 compared to 2017 (OR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.30-0.87, p = 0.0106). This effect was larger in the vaccinated compared to the control group (OR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.12-0.98, p = 0.0368). Interpretation While deployment of the 4CMenB vaccination did not alter the carriage of hyperinvasive MenB in the vaccinated population, it altered the carriage of other N. meningitidis sequence types following the vaccination program. Our findings suggest 4CMenB vaccination is unlikely to reduce transmission of hyperinvasive N. meningitidis strains and therefore ongoing targeted vaccination is likely a more effective public health intervention. Funding This work was funded by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lex E.X. Leong
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, SA Pathology, Adelaide 5000, Australia
- UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia
- Microbiome & Host Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Bedford Park, 5042, Australia
| | | | - Mark McMillan
- Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit, Women’s and Children’s Health Network, Adelaide 5000, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| | - Holly B. Bratcher
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Turra
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, SA Pathology, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| | - Andrew Lawrence
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, SA Pathology, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| | | | - Martin C.J. Maiden
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Geraint B. Rogers
- Microbiome & Host Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Bedford Park, 5042, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, Australia
| | - Helen Marshall
- Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit, Women’s and Children’s Health Network, Adelaide 5000, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5000, Australia
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3
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Mikucki A, Kahler CM. Microevolution and Its Impact on Hypervirulence, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Vaccine Escape in Neisseria meningitidis. Microorganisms 2023; 11:3005. [PMID: 38138149 PMCID: PMC10745880 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11123005] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis is commensal of the human pharynx and occasionally invades the host, causing the life-threatening illness invasive meningococcal disease. The meningococcus is a highly diverse and adaptable organism thanks to natural competence, a propensity for recombination, and a highly repetitive genome. These mechanisms together result in a high level of antigenic variation to invade diverse human hosts and evade their innate and adaptive immune responses. This review explores the ways in which this diversity contributes to the evolutionary history and population structure of the meningococcus, with a particular focus on microevolution. It examines studies on meningococcal microevolution in the context of within-host evolution and persistent carriage; microevolution in the context of meningococcal outbreaks and epidemics; and the potential of microevolution to contribute to antimicrobial resistance and vaccine escape. A persistent theme is the idea that the process of microevolution contributes to the development of new hyperinvasive meningococcal variants. As such, microevolution in this species has significant potential to drive future public health threats in the form of hypervirulent, antibiotic-resistant, vaccine-escape variants. The implications of this on current vaccination strategies are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- August Mikucki
- Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia;
- Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Charlene M. Kahler
- Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia;
- Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
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4
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Bloom DE, Bonanni P, Martinón-Torres F, Richmond PC, Safadi MAP, Salisbury DM, Charos A, Schley K, Findlow J, Balmer P. Meningococcal Disease in the Post-COVID-19 Era: A Time to Prepare. Infect Dis Ther 2023; 12:2649-2663. [PMID: 38048020 PMCID: PMC10746601 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-023-00888-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The global invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) landscape changed considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic, as evidenced by decreased incidence rates due to COVID-19 mitigation measures, such as limited social contact, physical distancing, mask wearing, and hand washing. Vaccination rates were also lower during the pandemic relative to pre-pandemic levels. Although policymakers may have shifted their focus away from IMD vaccination programs to COVID-19 vaccination programs, strong arguments support implementation and prioritization of IMD vaccination programs; IMD cases have increased in some countries and IMD rates may even have exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Additional concerns include increased susceptibility due to vaccination coverage gaps, increased incidence of other respiratory pathogens, immunity debt from lockdown restrictions, and increased IMD epidemiologic variability. The full range of benefits of widely available and effective meningococcal vaccines needs to be considered, especially in health technology assessments, where the broad benefits of these vaccines are neither accurately quantified nor captured in implementation policy decisions. Importantly, implementation of meningococcal vaccination programs in the current IMD climate also appeals to broader healthcare principles, including preparedness rather than reactive approaches, generally accepted benefit-risk approaches to vaccination, historical precedent, and the World Health Organization's goal of defeating meningitis by 2030. Countries should therefore act swiftly to bolster existing meningococcal vaccination strategies to provide broad coverage across age groups and serogroups given the recent increases in IMD incidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E Bloom
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paolo Bonanni
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Federico Martinón-Torres
- Pediatrics Department, Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago, de Compostela, Spain
- Genetics, Vaccines and Infections Research Group (GENVIP), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Peter C Richmond
- Division of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute and Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Marco A P Safadi
- Department of Pediatrics, Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - David M Salisbury
- Programme for Global Health, Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, London, UK
| | | | | | - Jamie Findlow
- Vaccines, Antivirals and Evidence Generation, Pfizer Ltd, Tadworth, UK
| | - Paul Balmer
- Vaccines, Antivirals and Evidence Generation, Pfizer Inc, Collegeville, PA, USA
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5
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Ivaškevičienė I, Silickaitė J, Mačionienė A, Ivaškevičius R, Bulavaitė A, Gėgžna V, Kiverytė S, Paškevič B, Žvirblienė A, Plečkaitytė M. Molecular characteristics of Neisseria meningitidis carriage strains in university students in Lithuania. BMC Microbiol 2023; 23:352. [PMID: 37978423 PMCID: PMC10655475 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-03111-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neisseria meningitidis can be carried asymptomatically in the human oropharynx without causing symptoms. Meningococcal carriage is relevant to the epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). No carriage studies have been performed among the general population in Lithuania, whereas the incidence of IMD in Lithuania was among the highest in European countries from 2009 to 2019. RESULTS We analyzed a total of 401 oropharyngeal samples collected from university students from December 2021 to February 2023 for N. meningitidis carriage using direct swab PCR assays and culture. The overall carriage prevalence based on both or either swab PCR or culture was 4.99%. PCR-based assays were used to characterize 15 carriage isolates, including detection of genogroup, multilocus sequence typing profile, and typing of antigens PorA and FetA. The most common carriage isolates were capsule null locus (cnl), accounting for 46.7%, followed by genogroups B (26.7%) and Y (13.3%). We also performed a molecular characterization of invasive N. meningitidis isolates collected during the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic period to understand better the meningococcal carriage in the context of prevailing invasive strains. Despite the substantial decrease in the incidence of IMD during the 2020-2022 period, clonal complex 32 (CC32) of serogroup B continued to be the most prevalent IMD-causing CC in Lithuania. However, CC32 was not detected among carriage isolates. The most common CCs were CC269, CC198, and CC1136. The antigen peptide variants found in most carried isolates were classified as 'insufficient data' according to the MenDeVAR Index to evaluate the potential coverage by the 4CMenB vaccine. Nearly half of the isolates were potentially covered by the Men-Fhbp vaccine. Resistance to ciprofloxacin was detected only for one cnl isolate. All isolates were susceptible to penicillin and ceftriaxone. Our analysis identified frequent partying (≥ 4 times/month) as a risk factor for meningococcal carriage, whereas smoking, living in a dormitory, and previous COVID-19 illness were not associated with the carriage. CONCLUSIONS Our study revealed a low prevalence of meningococcal carriage among university students in Lithuania. The carriage isolates showed genetic diversity, although almost half of them were identified as having a null capsule locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga Ivaškevičienė
- Clinic of Children's Diseases, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
- Pediatric Center, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Justina Silickaitė
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Asta Mačionienė
- Center of Laboratory Medicine, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Rimvydas Ivaškevičius
- Clinic of Children's Diseases, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
- Pediatric Center, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Aistė Bulavaitė
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vilmantas Gėgžna
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Silvija Kiverytė
- Center of Laboratory Medicine, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, Lithuania
- Department of Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Laboratory Medicine Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Božena Paškevič
- Clinic of Children's Diseases, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
- Pediatric Center, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Aurelija Žvirblienė
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Milda Plečkaitytė
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
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6
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Haldar T, Joshi R, Saroj SD. Antibiotics modulates the virulence of N. meningitidis by regulating capsule synthesis. Microb Pathog 2023; 179:106117. [PMID: 37084824 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106117] [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: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
The opportunistic pathogens residing are frequently exposed to range of antimicrobials which affects virulence attributes. Neisseria meningitidis, is a host-restricted commensal of human upper respiratory tract which is subjected to a variety of stresses within the host, including antibiotic exposure. One of the most important virulence factors for pathogenesis is the meningococcal lipo-oligosaccharide capsule. Role of capsules in antimicrobial resistance and persistence is not yet established. In this study, different virulence factors of N. meningitidis were examined in presence of sub-MIC of four antibiotics: penicillin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin and chloramphenicol. We observed increased production of the capsule by N. meningitidis when grown in the presence of penicillin, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol at sub-inhibitory concentration. Capsular production increase concurrently with increased resistance to inducing antibiotic which also confers increased survival in human serum. Finally, we show that increased capsule production in response to antibiotic exposure is aided by siaC, ctrB, lipA gene expression. These findings show that capsule synthesis, a major pathogenicity determinant, is regulated in response to antibiotic stress. Our findings support a model in which gene expression changes caused by ineffective antibiotic treatment cause N. meningitidis transition between states of low and high virulence potential, contributing to pathogen's opportunistic nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiyasa Haldar
- Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Lavale, Pune, 412115, India
| | - Riya Joshi
- Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Lavale, Pune, 412115, India
| | - Sunil D Saroj
- Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Lavale, Pune, 412115, India.
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7
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Ewasechko NF, Chaudhuri S, Schryvers AB. Insights from targeting transferrin receptors to develop vaccines for pathogens of humans and food production animals. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 12:1083090. [PMID: 36683691 PMCID: PMC9853020 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1083090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
While developing vaccines targeting surface transferrin receptor proteins in Gram-negative pathogens of humans and food production animals, the common features derived from their evolutionary origins has provided us with insights on how improvements could be implemented in the various stages of research and vaccine development. These pathogens are adapted to live exclusively on the mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory or genitourinary tract of their host and rely on their receptors to acquire iron from transferrin for survival, indicating that there likely are common mechanisms for delivering transferrin to the mucosal surfaces that should be explored. The modern-day receptors are derived from those present in bacteria that lived over 320 million years ago. The pathogens represent the most host adapted members of their bacterial lineages and may possess factors that enable them to have strong association with the mucosal epithelial cells, thus likely reside in a different niche than the commensal members of the bacterial lineage. The bacterial pathogens normally lead a commensal lifestyle which presents challenges for development of relevant infection models as most infection models either exclude the early stages of colonization or subsequent disease development, and the immune mechanisms at the mucosal surface that would prevent disease are not evident. Development of infection models emulating natural horizontal disease transmission are also lacking. Our aim is to share our insights from the study of pathogens of humans and food production animals with individuals involved in vaccine development, maintaining health or regulation of products in the human and animal health sectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolas F Ewasechko
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Somshukla Chaudhuri
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Anthony B Schryvers
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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8
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Anbo M, Jelsbak L. A bittersweet fate: detection of serotype switching in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microb Genom 2023; 9:mgen000919. [PMID: 36748704 PMCID: PMC9973846 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
High-risk clone types in Pseudomonas aeruginosa are problematic global multidrug-resistant clones. However, apart from their ability to resist antimicrobial treatment, not much is known about what sets these clones apart from the multitude of other clones. In high-risk clone ST111, it has previously been shown that replacement of the native serotype biosynthetic gene cluster (O4) by a different gene cluster (O12) by horizontal gene transfer and recombination may have contributed to the global success of this clone. However, the extent to which isolates undergo this type of serotype switching has not been adequately explored in P. aeruginosa. In the present study, a bioinformatics tool has been developed and utilized to provide a first estimate of serotype switching in groups of multidrug resistant (MDR) clinical isolates. The tool detects serotype switching by analysis of core-genome phylogeny and in silico serotype. Analysis of a national survey of MDR isolates found a prevalence of 3.9 % of serotype-switched isolates in high-risk clone types ST111, ST244 and ST253. A global survey of MDR isolates was additionally analysed, and it was found that 2.3 % of isolates had undergone a serotype switch. To further understand this process, we determined the exact boundaries of the horizontally transferred serotype O12 island. We found that the size of the serotype island correlates with the clone type of the receiving isolate and additionally we found intra-clone type variations in size and boundaries. This suggests multiple serotype switch events. Moreover, we found that the housekeeping gene gyrA is co-transferred with the O12 serotype island, which prompted us to analyse this allele for all serotype O12 isolates. We found that 95 % of ST111 O12 isolates had a resistant gyrA allele and 86 % of all O12 isolates had a resistant gyrA allele. The rates of resistant gyrA alleles in isolates with other prevalent serotypes are all lower. Together, these results show that the transfer and acquisition of serotype O12 in high-risk clone ST111 has happened multiple times and may be facilitated by multiple donors, which clearly suggests a strong selection pressure for this process. However, gyrA-mediated antibiotic resistance may not be the only evolutionary driver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikkel Anbo
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lars Jelsbak
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Lars Jelsbak,
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9
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Asturias EJ, Bai X, Bettinger JA, Borrow R, Castillo DN, Caugant DA, Chacon GC, Dinleyici EC, Echaniz-Aviles G, Garcia L, Glennie L, Harrison LH, Howie RL, Itsko M, Lucidarme J, Marin JEO, Marjuki H, McNamara LA, Mustapha MM, Robinson JL, Romeu B, Sadarangani M, Sáez-Llorens X, Sáfadi MAP, Stephens DS, Stuart JM, Taha MK, Tsang RSW, Vazquez J, De Wals P. Meningococcal disease in North America: Updates from the Global Meningococcal Initiative. J Infect 2022; 85:611-622. [PMID: 36273639 PMCID: PMC11091909 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This review summarizes the recent Global Meningococcal Initiative (GMI) regional meeting, which explored meningococcal disease in North America. Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) cases are documented through both passive and active surveillance networks. IMD appears to be decreasing in many areas, such as the Dominican Republic (2016: 18 cases; 2021: 2 cases) and Panama (2008: 1 case/100,000; 2021: <0.1 cases/100,000); however, there is notable regional and temporal variation. Outbreaks persist in at-risk subpopulations, such as people experiencing homelessness in the US and migrants in Mexico. The recent emergence of β-lactamase-positive and ciprofloxacin-resistant meningococci in the US is a major concern. While vaccination practices vary across North America, vaccine uptake remains relatively high. Monovalent and multivalent conjugate vaccines (which many countries in North America primarily use) can provide herd protection. However, there is no evidence that group B vaccines reduce meningococcal carriage. The coronavirus pandemic illustrates that following public health crises, enhanced surveillance of disease epidemiology and catch-up vaccine schedules is key. Whole genome sequencing is a key epidemiological tool for identifying IMD strain emergence and the evaluation of vaccine strain coverage. The Global Roadmap on Defeating Meningitis by 2030 remains a focus of the GMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin J Asturias
- University of Colorado School of Medicine and Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Xilian Bai
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Manchester, UK
| | - Julie A Bettinger
- Vaccine Evaluation Center, British Colombia Children's Hospital Research Institute, and Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ray Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Manchester, UK.
| | | | | | | | | | - Gabriela Echaniz-Aviles
- Center for Research on Infectious Diseases, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Luis Garcia
- Center for State Control of Drugs, Medical Devices and Equipment, Cuba
| | | | - Lee H Harrison
- Center for Genomic Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Rebecca L Howie
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA
| | - Mark Itsko
- WDS Inc., Contractor to Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA
| | - Jay Lucidarme
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Henju Marjuki
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA
| | - Lucy A McNamara
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA
| | | | | | - Belkis Romeu
- Center for State Control of Drugs, Medical Devices and Equipment, Cuba
| | - Manish Sadarangani
- Vaccine Evaluation Center, British Colombia Children's Hospital Research Institute, and Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Xavier Sáez-Llorens
- Hospital del Niño - Dr José Renán Esquivel, Distinguished Investigator at Senacyt (SNI) and Cevaxin, Panama City, Panama
| | - Marco A P Sáfadi
- Department of Pediatrics, Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - David S Stephens
- Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Muhamed-Kheir Taha
- Institut Pasteur, National Reference Centre for Meningococci and Haemophilus influenzae, Paris, France
| | - Raymond S W Tsang
- National Microbiology Laboratory Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Julio Vazquez
- National Centre of Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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10
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Mo Y, Li Y, Liu G, Chen J, Wei D, Wu J, Meng Q, Li Z, Mo Z. A phase II, single-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel control clinical study evaluating the immunogenicity and safety of a two-dose schedule of serogroups ACYW meningococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine. Vaccine 2022; 40:6785-6794. [PMID: 36243590 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.08.001] [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: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This was a single-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel control study evaluating the immunogenicity and safety of a two-dose schedule of serogroups ACYW meningococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine with tetanus toxoid (TT) conjugate protein, in infants and toddlers of 3-35 months old. METHOD 720 participants were stratified according to the age of 3-5 months old, 6-11 months old, and 12-35 months old and randomly assigned with an equal ratio to two different dose groups, i.e., 40- and 20-μg doses. Blood samples were taken from all participants before the first vaccination and 30 days after the full-course vaccination to detect the serogroups ACYW meningococcal antibodies. All adverse events occurred within 30 days after vaccination of each dose, and serious adverse events occurred within six months after full-course vaccination were collected for safety evaluation. This study was registered at the China drug trial registration with the identifier CTR 20182031. RESULTS After 30 days of full-course vaccination, 92.78 % (95 % CI: 85.70 %-100.00 %) showed the immune response against all serogroups in both high-dose and low-dose groups by rabbit serum bactericidal antibody assay (rSBA) and the geometric mean titer (GMT) of all serogroups showed a high level (74.6-505.8, 95 % CI: 56.4-615.7). However, no significant difference between different dose groups was observed (P > 0.05). The common local and systemic adverse events in both groups were redness (3 %-7%), and fever (26 %-65 %), respectively. In addition, the grade 3 adverse event related to the vaccine was fever (1.67 %-12.50 %). No serious adverse event was reported to be associate with the vaccination. CONCLUSION The serogroups ACYW meningococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine was safe and effective in the population aged 3-35 months. The vaccine efficacy and safety of the 20-μg dose group were not less than that of the 40-μg dose group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Mo
- Guangxi Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanan Li
- National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Beijing Zhifei Lvzhu Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Junji Chen
- Guangxi Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Nanjing, China
| | - Dingkai Wei
- Rong'an County Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Liuzhou, China
| | - Jigang Wu
- Rong'an County Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Liuzhou, China
| | - Qiuyan Meng
- Simoon Record Beijing Co., Ltd, Nanning, China
| | - Zhi Li
- Simoon Record Beijing Co., Ltd, Nanning, China
| | - Zhaojun Mo
- Guangxi Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Nanjing, China.
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11
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Whaley MJ, Vuong JT, Topaz N, Chang HY, Thomas JD, Jenkins LT, Hu F, Schmink S, Steward-Clark E, Mathis M, Rodriguez-Rivera LD, Retchless AC, Joseph SJ, Chen A, Acosta AM, McNamara L, Soeters HM, Mbaeyi S, Marjuki H, Wang X. Genomic Insights on Variation Underlying Capsule Expression in Meningococcal Carriage Isolates From University Students, United States, 2015-2016. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:815044. [PMID: 35250931 PMCID: PMC8893959 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.815044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In January and February 2015, Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (NmB) outbreaks occurred at two universities in the United States, and mass vaccination campaigns using MenB vaccines were initiated as part of a public health response. Meningococcal carriage evaluations were conducted concurrently with vaccination campaigns at these two universities and at a third university, where no NmB outbreak occurred. Meningococcal isolates (N = 1,514) obtained from these evaluations were characterized for capsule biosynthesis by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Functional capsule polysaccharide synthesis (cps) loci belonging to one of seven capsule genogroups (B, C, E, W, X, Y, and Z) were identified in 122 isolates (8.1%). Approximately half [732 (48.4%)] of isolates could not be genogrouped because of the lack of any serogroup-specific genes. The remaining 660 isolates (43.5%) contained serogroup-specific genes for genogroup B, C, E, W, X, Y, or Z, but had mutations in the cps loci. Identified mutations included frameshift or point mutations resulting in premature stop codons, missing or fragmented genes, or disruptions due to insertion elements. Despite these mutations, 49/660 isolates expressed capsule as observed with slide agglutination, whereas 45/122 isolates with functional cps loci did not express capsule. Neither the variable capsule expression nor the genetic variation in the cps locus was limited to a certain clonal complex, except for capsule null isolates (predominantly clonal complex 198). Most of the meningococcal carriage isolates collected from student populations at three US universities were non-groupable as a result of either being capsule null or containing mutations within the capsule locus. Several mutations inhibiting expression of the genes involved with the synthesis and transport of the capsule may be reversible, allowing the bacteria to switch between an encapsulated and non-encapsulated state. These findings are particularly important as carriage is an important component of the transmission cycle of the pathogen, and understanding the impact of genetic variations on the synthesis of capsule, a meningococcal vaccine target and an important virulence factor, may ultimately inform strategies for control and prevention of disease caused by this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J. Whaley
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jeni T. Vuong
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Nadav Topaz
- CDC Foundation Field Employee assigned to the Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - How-Yi Chang
- IHRC Inc., Contractor to Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jennifer Dolan Thomas
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Laurel T. Jenkins
- IHRC Inc., Contractor to Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Fang Hu
- IHRC Inc., Contractor to Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Susanna Schmink
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Evelene Steward-Clark
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Marsenia Mathis
- IHRC Inc., Contractor to Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Lorraine D. Rodriguez-Rivera
- IHRC Inc., Contractor to Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Adam C. Retchless
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Sandeep J. Joseph
- IHRC Inc., Contractor to Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Alexander Chen
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Anna M. Acosta
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Lucy McNamara
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Heidi M. Soeters
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Sarah Mbaeyi
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Henju Marjuki
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Xin Wang
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
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12
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Soumahoro L, Abitbol V, Vicic N, Bekkat-Berkani R, Safadi MAP. Meningococcal Disease Outbreaks: A Moving Target and a Case for Routine Preventative Vaccination. Infect Dis Ther 2021; 10:1949-1988. [PMID: 34379309 PMCID: PMC8572905 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-021-00499-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) are unpredictable, can be sudden and have devastating consequences. We conducted a non-systematic review of the literature in PubMed (1997-2020) to assess outbreak response strategies and the impact of vaccine interventions. Since 1997, IMD outbreaks due to serogroups A, B, C, W, Y and X have occurred globally. Reactive emergency mass vaccination campaigns have encompassed single institutions (schools, universities) through to whole sections of the population at regional/national levels (e.g. serogroup B outbreaks in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, Canada and New Zealand). Emergency vaccination responses to IMD outbreaks consistently incurred substantial costs (expenditure on vaccine supplies, personnel costs and interruption of other programmes). Impediments included the limited pace of transmission of information to parents/communities/healthcare workers; issues around collection of informed consents; poor vaccine uptake by older adolescents/young adults, often a target age group; issues of reimbursement, particularly in the USA; and difficulties in swift supply of large quantities of vaccines. For serogroup B outbreaks, the need for two doses was a significant issue that contributed substantially to costs, delayed onset of protection and non-compliance with dose 2. Real-world descriptions of outbreak control strategies and the associated challenges systematically show that reactive outbreak management is administratively, logistically and financially costly, and that its impact can be difficult to measure. In view of the unpredictability, fast pace and potential lethality of outbreak-associated IMD, prevention through routine vaccination appears the most effective mitigation tool. Highly effective vaccines covering five of six disease-causing serogroups are available. Preparedness through routine vaccination programmes will enhance the speed and effectiveness of outbreak responses, should they be needed (ready access to vaccines and need for a single booster dose rather than a primary series).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Marco A P Safadi
- Department of Pediatrics, Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
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13
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Haudiquet M, Buffet A, Rendueles O, Rocha EPC. Interplay between the cell envelope and mobile genetic elements shapes gene flow in populations of the nosocomial pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001276. [PMID: 34228700 PMCID: PMC8259999 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) drive genetic transfers between bacteria using mechanisms that require a physical interaction with the cellular envelope. In the high-priority multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogens (ESKAPE), the first point of contact between the cell and virions or conjugative pili is the capsule. While the capsule can be a barrier to MGEs, it also evolves rapidly by horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Here, we aim at understanding this apparent contradiction by studying the covariation between the repertoire of capsule genes and MGEs in approximately 4,000 genomes of Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kpn). We show that capsules drive phage-mediated gene flow between closely related serotypes. Such serotype-specific phage predation also explains the frequent inactivation of capsule genes, observed in more than 3% of the genomes. Inactivation is strongly epistatic, recapitulating the capsule biosynthetic pathway. We show that conjugative plasmids are acquired at higher rates in natural isolates lacking a functional capsular locus and confirmed experimentally this result in capsule mutants. This suggests that capsule inactivation by phage pressure facilitates its subsequent reacquisition by conjugation. Accordingly, capsule reacquisition leaves long recombination tracts around the capsular locus. The loss and regain process rewires gene flow toward other lineages whenever it leads to serotype swaps. Such changes happen preferentially between chemically related serotypes, hinting that the fitness of serotype-swapped strains depends on the host genetic background. These results enlighten the bases of trade-offs between the evolution of virulence and multidrug resistance and caution that some alternatives to antibiotics by selecting for capsule inactivation may facilitate the acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). A study of how the complex interaction between capsules and mobile genetic elements shapes gene flow in populations of Klebsiella pneumoniae reveals that capsule inactivation by phage pressure facilitates its subsequent re-acquisition by conjugation, and this loss and re-gain process influences the gene flow towards other lineages whenever it leads to serotype changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Haudiquet
- Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Institut Pasteur, CNRS, UMR3525, Paris, France
- Ecole Doctoral FIRE–Programme Bettencourt, CRI, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Amandine Buffet
- Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Institut Pasteur, CNRS, UMR3525, Paris, France
| | - Olaya Rendueles
- Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Institut Pasteur, CNRS, UMR3525, Paris, France
| | - Eduardo P. C. Rocha
- Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Institut Pasteur, CNRS, UMR3525, Paris, France
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14
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Tzeng YL, Stephens DS. A Narrative Review of the W, X, Y, E, and NG of Meningococcal Disease: Emerging Capsular Groups, Pathotypes, and Global Control. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9030519. [PMID: 33802567 PMCID: PMC7999845 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9030519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis, carried in the human nasopharynx asymptomatically by ~10% of the population, remains a leading cause of meningitis and rapidly fatal sepsis, usually in otherwise healthy individuals. The epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) varies substantially by geography and over time and is now influenced by meningococcal vaccines and in 2020–2021 by COVID-19 pandemic containment measures. While 12 capsular groups, defined by capsular polysaccharide structures, can be expressed by N. meningitidis, groups A, B, and C historically caused most IMD. However, the use of mono-, bi-, and quadrivalent-polysaccharide-conjugate vaccines, the introduction of protein-based vaccines for group B, natural disease fluctuations, new drugs (e.g., eculizumab) that increase meningococcal susceptibility, changing transmission dynamics and meningococcal evolution are impacting the incidence of the capsular groups causing IMD. While the ability to spread and cause illness vary considerably, capsular groups W, X, and Y now cause significant IMD. In addition, group E and nongroupable meningococci have appeared as a cause of invasive disease, and a nongroupable N. meningitidis pathotype of the hypervirulent clonal complex 11 is causing sexually transmitted urethritis cases and outbreaks. Carriage and IMD of the previously “minor” N. meningitidis are reviewed and the need for polyvalent meningococcal vaccines emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yih-Ling Tzeng
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
| | - David S. Stephens
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +404-727-8357
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15
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Tsang RSW. A Narrative Review of the Molecular Epidemiology and Laboratory Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Bacterial Meningitis Agents: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus agalactiae. Microorganisms 2021; 9:449. [PMID: 33671611 PMCID: PMC7926440 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This narrative review describes the public health importance of four most common bacterial meningitis agents, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and S. agalactiae (group B Streptococcus). Three of them are strict human pathogens that normally colonize the nasopharynx and may invade the blood stream to cause systemic infections and meningitis. S. agalactiae colonizes the genito-gastrointestinal tract and is an important meningitis agent in newborns, but also causes invasive infections in infants or adults. These four bacteria have polysaccharide capsules that protect them against the host complement defense. Currently licensed conjugate vaccines (against S. pneumoniae, H. influenza, and N. meningitidis only but not S. agalactiae) can induce protective serum antibodies in infants as young as two months old offering protection to the most vulnerable groups, and the ability to eliminate carriage of homologous serotype strains in vaccinated subjects lending further protection to those not vaccinated through herd immunity. However, the serotype-specific nature of these vaccines have driven the bacteria to adapt by mechanisms that affect the capsule antigens through either capsule switching or capsule replacement in addition to the possibility of unmasking of strains or serotypes not covered by the vaccines. The post-vaccine molecular epidemiology of vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis is discussed based on findings obtained with newer genomic laboratory surveillance methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond S W Tsang
- Laboratory for Vaccine Preventable Bacterial Diseases, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, 1015 Arlington Street, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada
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16
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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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17
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Interactions and Signal Transduction Pathways Involved during Central Nervous System Entry by Neisseria meningitidis across the Blood-Brain Barriers. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228788. [PMID: 33233688 PMCID: PMC7699760 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Gram-negative diplococcus Neisseria meningitidis, also called meningococcus, exclusively infects humans and can cause meningitis, a severe disease that can lead to the death of the afflicted individuals. To cause meningitis, the bacteria have to enter the central nervous system (CNS) by crossing one of the barriers protecting the CNS from entry by pathogens. These barriers are represented by the blood–brain barrier separating the blood from the brain parenchyma and the blood–cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barriers at the choroid plexus and the meninges. During the course of meningococcal disease resulting in meningitis, the bacteria undergo several interactions with host cells, including the pharyngeal epithelium and the cells constituting the barriers between the blood and the CSF. These interactions are required to initiate signal transduction pathways that are involved during the crossing of the meningococci into the blood stream and CNS entry, as well as in the host cell response to infection. In this review we summarize the interactions and pathways involved in these processes, whose understanding could help to better understand the pathogenesis of meningococcal meningitis.
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18
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Calder A, Menkiti CJ, Çağdaş A, Lisboa Santos J, Streich R, Wong A, Avini AH, Bojang E, Yogamanoharan K, Sivanesan N, Ali B, Ashrafi M, Issa A, Kaur T, Latif A, Mohamed HAS, Maqsood A, Tamang L, Swager E, Stringer AJ, Snyder LAS. Virulence genes and previously unexplored gene clusters in four commensal Neisseria spp. isolated from the human throat expand the neisserial gene repertoire. Microb Genom 2020; 6. [PMID: 32845827 PMCID: PMC7643975 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Commensal non-pathogenic Neisseria spp. live within the human host alongside the pathogenic Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae and due to natural competence, horizontal gene transfer within the genus is possible and has been observed. Four distinct Neisseria spp. isolates taken from the throats of two human volunteers have been assessed here using a combination of microbiological and bioinformatics techniques. Three of the isolates have been identified as Neisseria subflava biovar perflava and one as Neisseria cinerea. Specific gene clusters have been identified within these commensal isolate genome sequences that are believed to encode a Type VI Secretion System, a newly identified CRISPR system, a Type IV Secretion System unlike that in other Neisseria spp., a hemin transporter, and a haem acquisition and utilization system. This investigation is the first to investigate these systems in either the non-pathogenic or pathogenic Neisseria spp. In addition, the N. subflava biovar perflava possess previously unreported capsule loci and sequences have been identified in all four isolates that are similar to genes seen within the pathogens that are associated with virulence. These data from the four commensal isolates provide further evidence for a Neisseria spp. gene pool and highlight the presence of systems within the commensals with functions still to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Calder
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Chukwuma Jude Menkiti
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Aylin Çağdaş
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Jefferson Lisboa Santos
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Ricarda Streich
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Alice Wong
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Amir H Avini
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Ebrima Bojang
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Karththeepan Yogamanoharan
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Nivetha Sivanesan
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Besma Ali
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Mariam Ashrafi
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Abdirizak Issa
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Tajinder Kaur
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Aisha Latif
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Hani A Sheik Mohamed
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Atifa Maqsood
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Laxmi Tamang
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Emily Swager
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Alex J Stringer
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Lori A S Snyder
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
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19
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IGIDBASHIAN S, BERTIZZOLO L, TOGNETTO A, AZZARI C, BONANNI P, CASTIGLIA P, CONVERSANO M, ESPOSITO S, GABUTTI G, ICARDI G, LOPALCO P, VITALE F, PARISI S, CHECCUCCI LISI G. Invasive meningococcal disease in Italy: from analysis of national data to an evidence-based vaccination strategy. JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE AND HYGIENE 2020; 61:E152-E161. [PMID: 32802999 PMCID: PMC7419122 DOI: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2020.61.2.1589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is one of the most severe vaccine-preventable disease not yet under control. In Italy, although different anti-meningococcal vaccines are available, their offer among regions is heterogeneous. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiology of IMD in Italy based on analysis of national surveillance data for 2011-2017 to optimize the vaccination strategy. Methods IMD surveillance data from the Italian National Health Institute were analysed. Microsoft Excel was used to present trend analysis, stratifying by age and serogroups. Results In Italy, during the period 2011-2017, the incidence of IMD increased from 0.25 cases/100,000 inhabitants in 2011 to 0.33 cases/100,000 in 2017. Most cases after 2012 were caused by non-B serogroups. The number of cases in subjects aged 25-64 years increased steadily after 2012 (36 cases in 2011, 79 in 2017), mostly due to non-B serogroups, representing more than 65% of cases in those aged 25+ years. Conclusions In the period from 2011 to 2017, the incidence of IMDs increased in Italy. The increase, probably due also to a better surveillance, highlights the importance of the disease in the adult population and the high level of circulation of non-B serogroups in particular after 2012. Our analysis supports an anti-meningococcal vaccination plan in Italy that should include the highest number of preventable serogroups and be aimed at vaccinating a wider population through a multicohort strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. IGIDBASHIAN
- Sanofi Pasteur, Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: Sarah Igidbashian, Sanofi Pasteur Italia, viale Luigi Bodio 37/b, 20158 Milan, Italy - E-mail:
| | | | - A. TOGNETTO
- Section of Hygiene, Institute of Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - C. AZZARI
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
- Meyer Children’s University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - P. BONANNI
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
| | - P. CASTIGLIA
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Italy
| | - M. CONVERSANO
- Department of Prevention, Local Health Authority of Taranto, Italy
| | - S. ESPOSITO
- Pediatric Clinic, Pietro Barilla Children’s Hospital, University of Parma, Italy
| | - G. GABUTTI
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - G. ICARDI
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Italy; IRCCS San Martino Policlinic Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| | - P.L. LOPALCO
- Department of Translational Research, New Technologies in Medicine & Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - F. VITALE
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Italy
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca C Brady
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 6014, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, USA.
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Aye AMM, Bai X, Borrow R, Bory S, Carlos J, Caugant DA, Chiou CS, Dai VTT, Dinleyici EC, Ghimire P, Handryastuti S, Heo JY, Jennison A, Kamiya H, Tonnii Sia L, Lucidarme J, Marshall H, Putri ND, Saha S, Shao Z, Sim JHC, Smith V, Taha MK, Van Thanh P, Thisyakorn U, Tshering K, Vázquez J, Veeraraghavan B, Yezli S, Zhu B. Meningococcal disease surveillance in the Asia-Pacific region (2020): The global meningococcal initiative. J Infect 2020; 81:698-711. [PMID: 32730999 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The degree of surveillance data and control strategies for invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) varies across the Asia-Pacific region. IMD cases are often reported throughout the region, but the disease is not notifiable in some countries, including Myanmar, Bangladesh and Malaysia. Although there remains a paucity of data from many countries, specific nations have introduced additional surveillance measures. The incidence of IMD is low and similar across the represented countries (<0.2 cases per 100,000 persons per year), with the predominant serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis being B, W and Y, although serogroups A and X are present in some areas. Resistance to ciprofloxacin is also of concern, with the close monitoring of antibiotic-resistant clonal complexes (e.g., cc4821) being a priority. Meningococcal vaccination is only included in a few National Immunization Programs, but is recommended for high-risk groups, including travellers (such as pilgrims) and people with complement deficiencies or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Both polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines form part of recommendations. However, cost and misconceptions remain limiting factors in vaccine uptake, despite conjugate vaccines preventing the acquisition of carriage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xilian Bai
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester M13 9WZ, UK.
| | - Ray Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester M13 9WZ, UK.
| | | | - Josefina Carlos
- University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Quezon City, Philippines
| | | | | | - Vo Thi Trang Dai
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | | | | | | | - Jung Yeon Heo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
| | | | - Hajime Kamiya
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Jay Lucidarme
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester M13 9WZ, UK.
| | - Helen Marshall
- Robinson Research Institute and department of Paediatrics, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Nina Dwi Putri
- Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo National Central Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Senjuti Saha
- Child Health Research Foundation, Mohammadpur, Dhaka1207, Bangladesh.
| | - Zhujun Shao
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
| | | | - Vinny Smith
- Meningitis Research Foundation, Bristol, UK.
| | | | - Phan Van Thanh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Usa Thisyakorn
- Tropical Medicine Cluster, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kinley Tshering
- Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Thimpu, Bhutan
| | - Julio Vázquez
- National Reference Laboratory for Meningococci, Institute of Health Carlos III, Spain.
| | | | - Saber Yezli
- Global Center for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bingqing Zhu
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
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22
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Lung abscess due to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup X-unexpected virulence of a commensal resulting from putative serogroup B capsular switching. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 39:2327-2334. [PMID: 32666483 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-020-03977-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
To report the first case of a lung abscess caused by Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) and to genetically characterize the rare underlying capsule switching event. The strain (PT NmX) was subjected to whole genome sequencing, and a comparative gene-by-gene analysis was performed based on 1605 N. meningitidis core loci that constitute the MLST core-genome scheme (cgMLST) V1.0. All ~ 9,600 genomes available on Neisseria PubMLST (until 30th November 2019) from all serogroups were used to better identify the genome make-up of the PT NmX strain. This strain was found to be highly divergent from other NmX reported worldwide and to belong to a new sequence type (ST-14273), with the finetype X: P1.19,15-1:F5-2. Moreover, it revealed a closer genetic proximity to strains from serogroup B than to other serogroups, suggesting a genome backbone associated with serogroup B, while it presents a capsule synthesis region derived from a NmX strain. We describe a new hybrid NmB/X isolate from a noninvasive meningococcal infection, causing lung abscess. Despite capsular switching events involving serogroup X are rare, it may lead to the emergence of pathogenic potential. Studies should continue to better understand the molecular basis underlying Neisseria strains' ability to spread to body compartments other than the tissues for which their tropism is already known.
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Sherman AC, Stephens DS. Serogroup A meningococcal conjugate vaccines: building sustainable and equitable vaccine strategies. Expert Rev Vaccines 2020; 19:455-463. [PMID: 32321332 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2020.1760097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION For well over 100 years, meningococcal disease due to serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis (MenA) has caused severe epidemics globally, especially in the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa. AREAS COVERED The article reviews the background and identification of MenA, the global and molecular epidemiology of MenA, and the outbreaks of MenA in the African meningitis belt. The implementation (2010) of an equitable MenA polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine (PsA-TT, MenAfriVac) and the strategy to control MenA in sub-Saharan Africa is described. The development of a novel multi-serogroup meningococcal conjugate vaccine (NmCV-5) that includes serogroup A is highlighted. The PubMed database (1996-2019) was searched for studies relating to MenA outbreaks, vaccine, and immunization strategies; and the Neisseria PubMLST database of 1755 MenA isolates (1915-2019) was reviewed. EXPERT OPINION Using strategies from the successful MenAfriVac campaign, expanded collaborative partnerships were built to develop a novel, low-cost multivalent component meningococcal vaccine that includes MenA. This vaccine promises greater sustainability and is directed toward global control of meningococcal disease in the African meningitidis belt and beyond. The new WHO global roadmap addresses the continuing problem of bacterial meningitis, including meningococcal vaccine prevention, and provides a framework for further reducing the devastation of MenA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy C Sherman
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - David S Stephens
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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24
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Meningococcal Quinolone Resistance Originated from Several Commensal Neisseria Species. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.01494-19. [PMID: 31740556 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01494-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Quinolone resistance is increasing in Neisseria meningitidis, with its prevalence in China being high (>70%), but its origin remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the donors of mutation-harboring gyrA alleles in N. meningitidis A total of 198 N. meningitidis isolates and 293 commensal Neisseria isolates were collected between 2005 and 2018 in Shanghai, China. The MICs of ciprofloxacin were determined using the agar dilution method. The resistance-associated genes gyrA and parC were sequenced for all isolates, while a few isolates were sequenced on the Illumina platform. The prevalences of quinolone resistance in the N. meningitidis and commensal Neisseria isolates were 67.7% (134/198) and 99.3% (291/293), respectively. All 134 quinolone-resistant N. meningitidis isolates possessed mutations in T91 (n = 123) and/or D95 (n = 12) of GyrA, with 7 isolates also harboring ParC mutations and exhibiting higher MICs. Phylogenetic analysis of the gyrA sequence identified six clusters. Among the 71 mutation-harboring gyrA alleles found in 221 N. meningitidis isolates and genomes (n = 221), 12 alleles (n = 103, 46.6%) were included in the N. meningitidis cluster, while 20 alleles (n = 56) were included in the N. lactamica cluster, 27 alleles (n = 49) were included in the N. cinerea cluster, and 9 alleles (n = 10) were included in the N. subflava cluster. Genomic analyses identified the exact N. lactamica donors of seven mutation-harboring gyrA alleles (gyrA92, gyrA97, gyrA98, gyrA114, gyrA116, gyrA151, and gyrA230) and the N. subflava donor isolate of gyrA171, with the sizes of the recombinant fragments ranging from 634 to 7,499 bp. Transformation of gyrA fragments from these donor strains into a meningococcal isolate increased its ciprofloxacin MIC from 0.004 μg/ml to 0.125 or 0.19 μg/ml and to 0.5 μg/ml with further transformation of an additional ParC mutation. Over half of the quinolone-resistant N. meningitidis isolates acquired resistance by horizontal gene transfer from three commensal Neisseria species. Quinolone resistance in N. meningitidis increases in a stepwise manner.
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25
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Genetic determinants of genus-level glycan diversity in a bacterial protein glycosylation system. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1008532. [PMID: 31869330 PMCID: PMC6959607 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The human pathogens N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis display robust intra- and interstrain glycan diversity associated with their O-linked protein glycosylation (pgl) systems. In an effort to better understand the evolution and function of protein glycosylation operating there, we aimed to determine if other human-restricted, Neisseria species similarly glycosylate proteins and if so, to assess the levels of glycoform diversity. Comparative genomics revealed the conservation of a subset of genes minimally required for O-linked protein glycosylation glycan and established those pgl genes as core genome constituents of the genus. In conjunction with mass spectrometric–based glycan phenotyping, we found that extant glycoform repertoires in N. gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis and the closely related species N. polysaccharea and N. lactamica reflect the functional replacement of a progenitor glycan biosynthetic pathway. This replacement involved loss of pgl gene components of the primordial pathway coincident with the acquisition of two exogenous glycosyltransferase genes. Critical to this discovery was the identification of a ubiquitous but previously unrecognized glycosyltransferase gene (pglP) that has uniquely undergone parallel but independent pseudogenization in N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis. We suggest that the pseudogenization events are driven by processes of compositional epistasis leading to gene decay. Additionally, we documented instances where inter-species recombination influences pgl gene status and creates discordant genetic interactions due ostensibly to the multi-locus nature of pgl gene networks. In summary, these findings provide a novel perspective on the evolution of protein glycosylation systems and identify phylogenetically informative, genetic differences associated with Neisseria species. Bacteria express a remarkable diversity of sugars and oligosaccharides in conjunction with protein glycosylation systems. Currently however, little is known about the evolutionary processes and selective forces shaping glycan biosynthetic pathways. The closely related bacterial pathogens Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis remain serious sources of human disease and these species express antigenically variable oligosaccharides as components of their broad-spectrum, O‐linked protein glycosylation (pgl) systems. With the exception of isolates of Neisseria elongata subspecies glycolytica, the status of such post-translational modifications in related commensal species colonizing humans remains largely undefined. Here, we exploit new data from further studies of protein glycosylation in Neisseria elongata subspecies glycolytica to address these concerns. Employing comparative genomics and glycan phenotyping, we show that related pgl systems are indeed expressed by all human-restricted Neisseria species but identify unique gene gain and loss events as well as loss-of-function polymorphisms that accommodate a dramatic shift in glycoform structure occurring across the genus. These findings constitute novel perspectives on both the evolution of protein glycosylation systems in general and the macroevolutionary processes occurring in related bacterial species residing within a single host.
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27
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Vásquez-Machado G, Barato-Gómez P, Iregui-Castro C. Morphological characterization of the adherence and invasion of Streptococcus agalactiae to the intestinal mucosa of tilapia Oreochromis sp.: An in vitro model. JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES 2019; 42:1223-1231. [PMID: 31184378 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.13042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Streptococcosis in tilapia Oreochromis sp. is possibly the most important bacterial disease for fish production worldwide. In Colombia, streptococcosis is caused by Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS), but in other countries, Streptococcus iniae is also involved. Prevention of streptococcosis is required and must be addressed for economic, social, international trade and public health reasons. This research used an in vitro culture of tilapia intestine to detail the intestinal mucosal response once the pathogen contacts the epithelium. We show that S. agalactiae sheds off its capsule to adhere to the epithelium. The bacterium adheres as a single individuum, in groups or in chains and is able to divide on the apical border of enterocytes. GBS adheres at and invades exclusively through the apical portion of the intestinal folds, using the transepithelial route. Once within the cytoplasm of enterocytes, the bacteria continue to divide. On the basolateral side of the epithelium, the microorganisms leave the cells to reach the propria and travel through the microcirculation. No evidence of an immuno-inflammatory reaction or goblet cell response in the epithelium or the lamina propria was seen during the process of adherence and invasion of the pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gersson Vásquez-Machado
- Veterinary Pathobiology Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá DC, Colombia
- HISTOLAB Diagnóstico Veterinario, Bogotá DC, Colombia
- Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario ICA, Bogotá DC, Colombia
| | - Paola Barato-Gómez
- Veterinary Pathobiology Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá DC, Colombia
- Corporación Patología Veterinaria-CORPAVET, Bogotá DC, Colombia
| | - Carlos Iregui-Castro
- Veterinary Pathobiology Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá DC, Colombia
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28
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Clemence MEA, Harrison OB, Maiden MCJ. Neisseria meningitidis has acquired sequences within the capsule locus by horizontal genetic transfer. Wellcome Open Res 2019; 4:99. [PMID: 31346553 PMCID: PMC6619384 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15333.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Expression of a capsule from one of serogroups A, B, C, W, X or Y is usually required for
Neisseria meningitidis (
Nme) to cause invasive meningococcal disease. The capsule is encoded by the capsule locus,
cps, which is proposed to have been acquired by a formerly capsule null organism by horizontal genetic transfer (HGT) from another species. Following identification of putative capsule genes in non-pathogenic
Neisseria species, this hypothesis is re-examined. Methods: Whole genome sequence data from
Neisseria species, including
Nme genomes from a diverse range of clonal complexes and capsule genogroups, and non-
Neisseria species, were obtained from PubMLST and GenBank. Sequence alignments of genes from the meningococcal
cps, and predicted orthologues in other species, were analysed using Neighbor-nets, BOOTSCANing and maximum likelihood phylogenies. Results: The meningococcal
cps was highly mosaic within regions B, C and D. A subset of sequences within regions B and C were phylogenetically nested within homologous sequences belonging to
N. subflava, consistent with HGT event in which
N. subflava was the donor. In the
cps of 23/39 isolates, the two copies of region D were highly divergent, with
rfbABC’ sequences being more closely related to predicted orthologues in the proposed species
N. weixii (GenBank accession number
CP023429.1) than the same genes in
Nme isolates lacking a capsule. There was also evidence of mosaicism in the
rfbABC’ sequences of the remaining 16 isolates, as well as
rfbABC from many isolates. Conclusions: Data are consistent with the
en bloc acquisition of
cps in meningococci from
N. subflava, followed by further recombination events with other
Neisseria species. Nevertheless, the data cannot refute an alternative model, in which native meningococcal capsule existed prior to undergoing HGT with
N. subflava and other species. Within-genus recombination events may have given rise to the diversity of meningococcal capsule serogroups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Odile B Harrison
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SY, UK
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Balarabe SA. Epidemics of meningococcal meningitis in Northern Nigeria focus on preventive measures. Ann Afr Med 2019; 17:163-167. [PMID: 30588927 PMCID: PMC6330781 DOI: 10.4103/aam.aam_62_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Throughout the past 200 years, epidemics of meningococcal infection have been noted in Northern Nigeria. Consequently, control of meningococcal meningitis is one of the major priorities in infection control in the region. The proportions of cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by the five common serotypes (A, B, C, Y, and W135) vary among different regions and within specific geographic locations. Hence, effective and comprehensive disease control can only be achieved with the use of vaccines that target all of these disease-causing serotypes. Vaccines for the majority of meningococcal serogroups implicated in causing IMD are available in developed countries and have proven effective in reducing the disease incidence. However, the overall success of a vaccine depends on its coverage of the at-risk population as well as safety and effectiveness of the vaccine at preventing disease. Therefore, maximizing the global impact of these vaccines requires having them made available in regions with the high incidence of the disease, like Northern Nigeria, where rates of meningococcal disease are several times higher than in industrialized nations, and the reported mortality is usually high.
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Clemence MEA, Harrison OB, Maiden MCJ. Neisseria meningitidis has acquired sequences within the capsule locus by horizontal genetic transfer. Wellcome Open Res 2019; 4:99. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15333.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:Expression of a capsule from one of serogroups A, B, C, W, X or Y is usually required forNeisseria meningitidis(Nme) to cause invasive meningococcal disease. The capsule is encoded by the capsule locus,cps, which is proposed to have been acquired by a formerly capsule null organism by horizontal genetic transfer (HGT) from another species. Following identification of putative capsule genes in non-pathogenicNeisseriaspecies, this hypothesis is re-examined.Methods:Whole genome sequence data fromNeisseriaspecies, includingNmegenomes from a diverse range of clonal complexes and capsule genogroups, and non-Neisseriaspecies, were obtained from PubMLST and GenBank. Sequence alignments of genes from the meningococcalcps, and predicted orthologues in other species, were analysed using Neighbor-nets, BOOTSCANing and maximum likelihood phylogenies.Results:The meningococcalcpswas highly mosaic within regions B, C and D. A subset of sequences within regions B and C were phylogenetically nested within homologous sequences belonging toN. subflava, consistent with HGT event in whichN. subflavawas the donor. In thecpsof 23/39 isolates, the two copies of region D were highly divergent, withrfbABC’sequences being more closely related to predicted orthologues in the proposed speciesN. weixii (GenBank accession numberCP023429.1) than the same genes inNmeisolates lacking a capsule. There was also evidence of mosaicism in therfbABC’sequences of the remaining 16 isolates, as well asrfbABCfrom many isolates.Conclusions:Data are consistent with theen blocacquisition ofcpsin meningococci fromN. subflava, followed by further recombination events with otherNeisseriaspecies. Nevertheless, the data cannot refute an alternative model, in which native meningococcal capsule existed prior to undergoing HGT withN. subflavaand other species. Within-genus recombination events may have given rise to the diversity of meningococcal capsule serogroups.
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31
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Awanye AM, Chang CM, Wheeler JX, Chan H, Marsay L, Dold C, Rollier CS, Bird LE, Nettleship JE, Owens RJ, Pollard AJ, Derrick JP. Immunogenicity profiling of protein antigens from capsular group B Neisseria meningitidis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6843. [PMID: 31048732 PMCID: PMC6497663 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43139-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Outer membrane vesicle (OMV)- based vaccines have been used to provide strain-specific protection against capsular group B Neisseria meningitidis infections, but the full breadth of the immune response against the components of the OMV has not been established. Sera from adults vaccinated with an OMV vaccine were used to screen 91 outer membrane proteins (OMPs) incorporated in an antigen microarray panel. Antigen-specific IgG levels were quantified pre-vaccination, and after 12 and 18 weeks. These results were compared with IgG levels from mice vaccinated with the same OMV vaccine. The repertoires of highly responding antigens in humans and mice overlapped, but were not identical. The highest responding antigens to human IgG comprised four integral OMPs (PorA, PorB, OpcA and PilQ), a protein which promotes the stability of PorA and PorB (RmpM) and two lipoproteins (BamC and GNA1162). These observations will assist in evaluating the role of minor antigen components within OMVs in providing protection against meningococcal infection. In addition, the relative dominance of responses to integral OMPs in humans emphasizes the importance of this subclass and points to the value of maintaining conformational epitopes from integral membrane proteins in vaccine formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaka M Awanye
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Chun-Mien Chang
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jun X Wheeler
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Hertfordshire, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Hannah Chan
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Hertfordshire, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Leanne Marsay
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Christina Dold
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Christine S Rollier
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Louise E Bird
- Oxford Protein Production Facility, Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Didcot, OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Joanne E Nettleship
- Oxford Protein Production Facility, Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Didcot, OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Raymond J Owens
- Oxford Protein Production Facility, Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Didcot, OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Andrew J Pollard
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Jeremy P Derrick
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
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Mohamed N, Timofeyeva Y, Jamrozy D, Rojas E, Hao L, Silmon de Monerri NC, Hawkins J, Singh G, Cai B, Liberator P, Sebastian S, Donald RGK, Scully IL, Jones CH, Creech CB, Thomsen I, Parkhill J, Peacock SJ, Jansen KU, Holden MTG, Anderson AS. Molecular epidemiology and expression of capsular polysaccharides in Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates in the United States. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0208356. [PMID: 30641545 PMCID: PMC6331205 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus capsular polysaccharides (CP) are important virulence factors under evaluation as vaccine antigens. Clinical S. aureus isolates have the biosynthetic capability to express either CP5 or CP8 and an understanding of the relationship between CP genotype/phenotype and S. aureus epidemiology is valuable. Using whole genome sequencing, the clonal relatedness and CP genotype were evaluated for disease-associated S. aureus isolates selected from the Tigecycline Evaluation and Surveillance Trial (T.E.S.T) to represent different geographic regions in the United States (US) during 2004 and 2009–10. Thirteen prominent clonal complexes (CC) were identified, with CC5, 8, 30 and 45 representing >80% of disease isolates. CC5 and CC8 isolates were CP type 5 and, CC30 and CC45 isolates were CP type 8. Representative isolates from prevalent CC were susceptible to in vitro opsonophagocytic killing elicited by anti-CP antibodies, demonstrating that susceptibility to opsonic killing is not linked to the genetic lineage. However, as not all S. aureus isolates may express CP, isolates representing the diversity of disease isolates were assessed for CP production. While approximately 35% of isolates (primarily CC8) did not express CP in vitro, CP expression could be clearly demonstrated in vivo for 77% of a subset of these isolates (n = 20) despite the presence of mutations within the capsule operon. CP expression in vivo was also confirmed indirectly by measuring an increase in CP specific antibodies in mice infected with CP5 or CP8 isolates. Detection of antigen expression in vivo in relevant disease states is important to support the inclusion of these antigens in vaccines. Our findings confirm the validity of CP as vaccine targets and the potential of CP-based vaccines to contribute to S. aureus disease prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naglaa Mohamed
- Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | - Yekaterina Timofeyeva
- Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | - Dorota Jamrozy
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Eduardo Rojas
- Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | - Li Hao
- Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | | | - Julio Hawkins
- Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | - Guy Singh
- Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | - Bing Cai
- Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | - Paul Liberator
- Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | - Shite Sebastian
- Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | - Robert G. K. Donald
- Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | - Ingrid L. Scully
- Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | - C. Hal Jones
- Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | - C. Buddy Creech
- Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Isaac Thomsen
- Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Julian Parkhill
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sharon J. Peacock
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kathrin U. Jansen
- Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | | | - Annaliesa S. Anderson
- Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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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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Mostowy RJ, Holt KE. Diversity-Generating Machines: Genetics of Bacterial Sugar-Coating. Trends Microbiol 2018; 26:1008-1021. [PMID: 30037568 PMCID: PMC6249986 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2018.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial pathogens and commensals are surrounded by diverse surface polysaccharides which include capsules and lipopolysaccharides. These carbohydrates play a vital role in bacterial ecology and interactions with the environment. Here, we review recent rapid advancements in this field, which have improved our understanding of the roles, structures, and genetics of bacterial polysaccharide antigens. Genetic loci encoding the biosynthesis of these antigens may have evolved as bacterial diversity-generating machines, driven by selection from a variety of forces, including host immunity, bacteriophages, and cell-cell interactions. We argue that the high adaptive potential of polysaccharide antigens should be taken into account in the design of polysaccharide-targeting medical interventions like conjugate vaccines and phage-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał J Mostowy
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Kathryn E Holt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Sadeghi M, Ahmadrajabi R, Dehesh T, Saffari F. Prevalence of meningococcal carriage among male university students living in dormitories in Kerman, southeast of Iran. Pathog Glob Health 2018; 112:329-333. [PMID: 30156971 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2018.1514138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis is an important causative agent of bacterial meningitis. The nasopharynx is the only known reservoir of this organism. Although the relationship between carriage and invasive disease is not completely understood, asymptomatic meningococcal carriers are considered as the most important sources for causing strains of disease. Living in closed and overcrowded places such as university dormitories can increase the carriage rate and meningococcal disease. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of N. meningitidis carriers among male students living in three dormitories affiliated with Kerman University of Medical Sciences (Kerman, Iran). Nasopharyngeal swab was taken from all participants recruited in the study. Conventional microbiological tests were performed for isolation and detection of the organism. The amplification of crgA gene was used to confirm the identity of isolates. Molecular serogrouping was used to detect the six most frequent serotypes. The overall carriage rate was 6.8% (23/335). The capsular type of these isolates was in determinate (56.5%) or of serogroup C (43.5%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that cigarette smoking was significantly associated with meningococcal carriage (OR = 5.02; p = 0.01). Additionally, using univariate regression analysis, a significant association was found between water pipe smoking and carriage (p = 0.018). The rate of meningococcal carriage among male students in the studied population was lower as compared to other high-risk group (freshmen conscripts) in Iran. University students should be aware of the consequences of cigarette and water pipe smoking as risk factors in meningococcal carriage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Sadeghi
- a Department of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine , Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman , Iran
| | - Roya Ahmadrajabi
- a Department of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine , Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman , Iran
| | - Tania Dehesh
- b Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health , Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman , Iran
| | - Fereshteh Saffari
- a Department of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine , Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman , Iran
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36
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The threat of meningococcal disease during the Hajj and Umrah mass gatherings: A comprehensive review. Travel Med Infect Dis 2018; 24:51-58. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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37
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Kingella kingae Surface Polysaccharides Promote Resistance to Human Serum and Virulence in a Juvenile Rat Model. Infect Immun 2018; 86:IAI.00100-18. [PMID: 29581191 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00100-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Kingella kingae is a Gram-negative coccobacillus that is increasingly being recognized as an important cause of invasive disease in young children. The pathogenesis of K. kingae disease begins with colonization of the oropharynx, followed by invasion of the bloodstream, survival in the intravascular space, and dissemination to distant sites. Recent studies have revealed that K. kingae produces a number of surface factors that may contribute to the pathogenic process, including a polysaccharide capsule and an exopolysaccharide. In this study, we observed that K. kingae was highly resistant to the bactericidal effects of human serum complement. Using mutant strains deficient in expression of capsule, exopolysaccharide, or both in assays with human serum, we found that elimination of both capsule and exopolysaccharide was required for efficient binding of IgG, IgM, C4b, and C3b to the bacterial surface and for complement-mediated killing. Abrogation of the classical complement pathway using EGTA-treated human serum restored survival to wild-type levels by the mutant lacking both capsule and exopolysaccharide, demonstrating that capsule and exopolysaccharide promote resistance to the classical complement pathway. Consistent with these results, loss of both capsule and exopolysaccharide eliminated invasive disease in juvenile rats with an intact complement system but not in rats lacking complement. Based on these observations, we conclude that the capsule and the exopolysaccharide have important redundant roles in promoting survival of K. kingae in human serum. Each of these surface factors is sufficient by itself to fully prevent serum opsonin deposition and complement-mediated killing of K. kingae, ultimately facilitating intravascular survival and promoting K. kingae invasive disease.
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Silva LA, Coronato B, Schlackman J, Marsh JW, Ezeonwuka C, Fernandes ACL, Souza VC, da Silva LS, de Amorim EFQ, Naveca FG, de Albuquerque BC, Amaral A, Souza ALS, Carvalho-Costa FA, Mustapha MM, Harrison LH, Barroso DE. Neisseria meningitidis disease-associated clones in Amazonas State, Brazil. Infect Dis (Lond) 2018; 50:697-704. [PMID: 29623748 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2018.1459829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study is to describe the molecular epidemiology of Neisseria meningitidis invasive disease before the introduction of serogroup C conjugate vaccine in Amazonas State in 2010. METHODS Meningococcal disease reported cases were investigated in Amazonas State during the period 2000-2010. N. meningitidis isolates (n = 196) recovered from patients were genotyped by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and sequencing of porB, porA, fetA, fHbp and penA. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using E-test. RESULTS In the study period, 948 cases were reported; the incidence was 2.8 for the entire state and 4.8 per 100,000 in the capital of Manaus. Most meningococcal disease was caused by N. meningitidis belonging to ST-32 (72%; 141/196) or ST-103 (21%; 41/196) clonal complexes. Capsular switching (B→C) was suggested within clonal complex (cc) 32. There were 6 (3%; 6/196) strains with intermediate susceptibility to penicillin and a single strain was resistant to rifampicin. Since 2007, serogroup C strains belonging to the cc103 have predominated and case-fatality has increased. CONCLUSION We demonstrate a high rate of meningococcal disease in Amazonas State, where, like other parts of Brazil, serogroup C replaced serogroup B during 2000s. These data serve as a baseline to measure impact of serogroup C conjugate vaccine introduction in 2010. This study emphasizes the need for enhanced surveillance to monitor changes in meningococcal disease trends following the introduction of meningococcal vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciete A Silva
- a Laboratory of Microbial Diversity of Importance to Health and Laboratory of Communicable Disease Ecology , Leônidas & Maria Deane Institute, FIOCRUZ , Manaus , Brazil
| | - Beatriz Coronato
- b Laboratory of Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics , Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
| | - Jessica Schlackman
- c Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit , University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Graduate School of Public Health , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
| | - Jane W Marsh
- c Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit , University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Graduate School of Public Health , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
| | - Chinelo Ezeonwuka
- c Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit , University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Graduate School of Public Health , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
| | - Andréia C L Fernandes
- b Laboratory of Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics , Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
| | - Victor C Souza
- a Laboratory of Microbial Diversity of Importance to Health and Laboratory of Communicable Disease Ecology , Leônidas & Maria Deane Institute, FIOCRUZ , Manaus , Brazil
| | - Lirna S da Silva
- a Laboratory of Microbial Diversity of Importance to Health and Laboratory of Communicable Disease Ecology , Leônidas & Maria Deane Institute, FIOCRUZ , Manaus , Brazil
| | - Elaine F Q de Amorim
- a Laboratory of Microbial Diversity of Importance to Health and Laboratory of Communicable Disease Ecology , Leônidas & Maria Deane Institute, FIOCRUZ , Manaus , Brazil
| | - Felipe G Naveca
- a Laboratory of Microbial Diversity of Importance to Health and Laboratory of Communicable Disease Ecology , Leônidas & Maria Deane Institute, FIOCRUZ , Manaus , Brazil
| | - Bernardino C de Albuquerque
- d Department of Epidemiological Surveillance and Central Laboratory , Foundation of Health Surveillance of Amazonas , Manaus , AM , Brazil
| | - Alcirene Amaral
- d Department of Epidemiological Surveillance and Central Laboratory , Foundation of Health Surveillance of Amazonas , Manaus , AM , Brazil
| | - Ana L S Souza
- d Department of Epidemiological Surveillance and Central Laboratory , Foundation of Health Surveillance of Amazonas , Manaus , AM , Brazil
| | - Filipe A Carvalho-Costa
- b Laboratory of Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics , Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.,e Regional Technical Office, FIOCRUZ , Teresina , Brazil
| | - Mustapha M Mustapha
- c Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit , University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Graduate School of Public Health , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
| | - Lee H Harrison
- c Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit , University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Graduate School of Public Health , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
| | - David E Barroso
- b Laboratory of Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics , Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
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39
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Coty JB, Vauthier C. Characterization of nanomedicines: A reflection on a field under construction needed for clinical translation success. J Control Release 2018; 275:254-268. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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40
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Mustapha MM, Harrison LH. Vaccine prevention of meningococcal disease in Africa: Major advances, remaining challenges. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2018; 14:1107-1115. [PMID: 29211624 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2017.1412020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Africa historically has had the highest incidence of meningococcal disease with high endemic rates and periodic epidemics. The meningitis belt, a region of sub-Saharan Africa extending from Senegal to Ethiopia, has experienced large, devastating epidemics. However, dramatic shifts in the epidemiology of meningococcal disease have occurred recently. For instance, meningococcal capsular group A (NmA) epidemics in the meningitis belt have essentially been eliminated by use of conjugate vaccine. However, NmW epidemics have emerged and spread across the continent since 2000; NmX epidemics have occurred sporadically, and NmC recently emerged in Nigeria and Niger. Outside the meningitis belt, NmB predominates in North Africa, while NmW followed by NmB predominate in South Africa. Improved surveillance is necessary to address the challenges of this changing epidemiologic picture. A low-cost, multivalent conjugate vaccine covering NmA and the emergent and prevalent meningococcal capsular groups C, W, and X in the meningitis belt is a pressing need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustapha M Mustapha
- a Microbial Genomic Epidemiology Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
| | - Lee H Harrison
- a Microbial Genomic Epidemiology Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
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41
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Sáfadi MAP, Valenzuela MT, Carvalho AF, De Oliveira LH, Salisbury DM, Andrus JK. Knowing the scope of meningococcal disease in Latin America. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2017; 41:e118. [PMID: 31391828 PMCID: PMC6660847 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2017.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Opportunities for strengthening surveillance of meningococcal disease exist between and within countries in Latin America. In August of 2015, a workshop was convened in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, to address the following objectives: 1) to review meningococcal disease burden and vaccine use in Latin America; 2) to evaluate the effectiveness of current meningococcal surveillance practices in the region; 3) to identify challenges to meningococcal surveillance in the region; and 4) to outline steps for strengthening meningococcal surveillance and disease control in the region. Based on the workshop’s discussions, recommendations for strengthening surveillance and controlling meningococcal disease in Latin America focus on improving: a) laboratory capabilities for diagnostic testing; b) communication regarding epidemiologic- and laboratory-based analyses; c) communication during outbreaks; d) monitoring of long-term disease outcomes; e) knowledge of vaccines against serogroup B disease; and f) criteria for defining and controlling meningococcal outbreaks. Overall, improving surveillance will help guide strategies for meningococcal disease prevention and control in Latin America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A P Sáfadi
- Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical egy to prevent meningococcal disease Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical egy to prevent meningococcal disease Sciences São Paulo Brazil Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical egy to prevent meningococcal disease. Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - María Teresa Valenzuela
- Facultad de Medicina Universidad de los Andes Santiago Chile Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ana Flavia Carvalho
- Sabin Vaccine Institute Sabin Vaccine Institute Washington, D.C. United States of America Sabin Vaccine Institute, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Lúcia Helena De Oliveira
- Pan American Health Organization Pan American Health Organization Washington, D.C United States of America Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - David M Salisbury
- Centre on Global Health Security at Chatham House Centre on Global Health Security at Chatham House London United Kingdom Centre on Global Health Security at Chatham House, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jon Kim Andrus
- Sabin Vaccine Institute Sabin Vaccine Institute Washington, D.C. United States of America Sabin Vaccine Institute, Washington, D.C., United States of America
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42
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Ji X, Yao PP, Zhang LY, Li Y, Xu F, Mei LL, Zhu SR, Zhang YJ, Zhu HP, van der Veen S. Capsule switching of Neisseria meningitidis sequence type 7 serogroup A to serogroup X. J Infect 2017; 75:521-531. [PMID: 28916450 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2017] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The bacterial pathogen Neisseria meningitidis is able to escape the currently available capsule-based vaccines by undergoing capsule switching. In this study, we investigated whether capsule switching has occurred in a recently emerged sequence type (ST) 7 serogroup X isolate in China, for which currently no vaccine is available. METHODS To identify capsule switching breakpoints, the capsule locus and flanking regions of the ST-7 serogroup X isolate and three endemic ST-7 serogroup A isolates were sequenced and compared. To obtain further insight into capsule switching frequency and length of DNA fragments involved, capsule switching assays were performed using genomic DNA containing combinations of antibiotic selection markers at various locations in the capsule locus and flanking regions. RESULTS Sequence analyses showed that capsule switching has occurred and involved a 8450 bp serogroup X DNA fragment spanning the region from galE to ctrC. Capsule switching assays indicate that capsule switching occurs at a frequency of 6.3 × 10-6 per bacterium per μg of DNA and predominantly involved DNA fragments of about 8.1-9.6 kb in length. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that capsule switching in N. meningitidis occurs at high frequency and involves recombination in the flanking regions of the capsule biosynthesis genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemeng Ji
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ping-Ping Yao
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Le-Yi Zhang
- Wenzhou City Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Yi Li
- Wenzhou City Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Fang Xu
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Ling-Ling Mei
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Shui-Rong Zhu
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Yan-Jun Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Han-Ping Zhu
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Stijn van der Veen
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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Abundance and co-occurrence of extracellular capsules increase environmental breadth: Implications for the emergence of pathogens. PLoS Pathog 2017; 13:e1006525. [PMID: 28742161 PMCID: PMC5542703 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular capsules constitute the outermost layer of many bacteria, are major virulence factors, and affect antimicrobial therapies. They have been used as epidemiological markers and recently became vaccination targets. Despite the efforts to biochemically serotype capsules in a few model pathogens, little is known of their taxonomic and environmental distribution. We developed, validated, and made available a computational tool, CapsuleFinder, to identify capsules in genomes. The analysis of over 2500 prokaryotic genomes, accessible in a database, revealed that ca. 50% of them—including Archaea—encode a capsule. The Wzx/Wzy-dependent capsular group was by far the most abundant. Surprisingly, a fifth of the genomes encode more than one capsule system—often from different groups—and their non-random co-occurrence suggests the existence of negative and positive epistatic interactions. To understand the role of multiple capsules, we queried more than 6700 metagenomes for the presence of species encoding capsules and showed that their distribution varied between environmental categories and, within the human microbiome, between body locations. Species encoding capsules, and especially those encoding multiple capsules, had larger environmental breadths than the other species. Accordingly, capsules were more frequent in environmental bacteria than in pathogens and, within the latter, they were more frequent among facultative pathogens. Nevertheless, capsules were frequent in clinical samples, and were usually associated with fast-growing bacteria with high infectious doses. Our results suggest that capsules increase the environmental range of bacteria and make them more resilient to environmental perturbations. Capsules might allow opportunistic pathogens to profit from empty ecological niches or environmental perturbations, such as those resulting from antibiotic therapy, to colonize the host. Capsule-associated virulence might thus be a by-product of environmental adaptation. Understanding the role of capsules in natural environments might enlighten their function in pathogenesis. Extracellular capsules protect bacterial cells from external aggressions such as antibiotics or desiccation, but can also be targeted by vaccines. Since little was known about their frequency across Prokaryotes, we created and made freely available a computational tool, CapsuleFinder, to identify them from genomic data. Surprisingly, its use showed that many bacterial strains, especially those with the largest genomes, encode several capsules. The frequencies of the different combinations of capsule groups depended strongly on the phyla and the groups themselves, suggesting the existence of epistatic interactions between capsules. Bacteria encoding capsule systems were found in many natural environments, and were frequent in the human microbiome. In contrast to their frequent association with virulence, we found many more capsules in non-pathogens or facultative pathogens than among obligatory pathogens. We suggest that capsules increase the environmental breadth of bacteria thereby facilitating host colonization by opportunistic pathogens.
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44
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Genetic Analysis of Neisseria meningitidis Sequence Type 7 Serogroup X Originating from Serogroup A. Infect Immun 2017; 85:IAI.01019-16. [PMID: 28320835 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01019-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 03/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis causes meningococcal disease, often resulting in fulminant meningitis, sepsis, and death. Vaccination programs have been developed to prevent infection of this pathogen, but serogroup replacement is a problem. Capsular switching has been an important survival mechanism for N. meningitidis, allowing the organism to evolve in the present vaccine era. However, related mechanisms have not been completely elucidated. Genetic analysis of capsular switching between diverse serogroups would help further our understanding of this pathogen. In this study, we analyzed the genetic characteristics of the sequence type 7 (ST-7) serogroup X strain that was predicted to arise from ST-7 serogroup A at the genomic level. By comparing the genomic structures and sequences, ST-7 serogroup X was closest to ST-7 serogroup A, whereas eight probable recombination regions, including the capsular gene locus, were identified. This indicated that serogroup X originated from serogroup A by recombination leading to capsular switching. The recombination involved approximately 8,540 bp from the end of the ctrC gene to the middle of the galE gene. There were more recombination regions and strain-specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms in serogroup X than in serogroup A genomes. However, no specific gene was found for each serogroup except those in the capsule gene locus.
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45
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Emergence of a new Neisseria meningitidis clonal complex 11 lineage 11.2 clade as an effective urogenital pathogen. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:4237-4242. [PMID: 28373547 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1620971114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) clonal complex 11 (cc11) lineage is a hypervirulent pathogen responsible for outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease, including among men who have sex with men, and is increasingly associated with urogenital infections. Recently, clusters of Nm urethritis have emerged primarily among heterosexual males in the United States. We determined that nonencapsulated meningococcal isolates from an ongoing Nm urethritis outbreak among epidemiologically unrelated men in Columbus, Ohio, are linked to increased Nm urethritis cases in multiple US cities, including Atlanta and Indianapolis, and that they form a unique clade (the US Nm urethritis clade, US_NmUC). The isolates belonged to the cc11 lineage 11.2/ET-15 with fine type of PorA P1.5-1, 10-8; FetA F3-6; PorB 2-2 and express a unique FHbp allele. A common molecular fingerprint of US_NmUC isolates was an IS1301 element in the intergenic region separating the capsule ctr-css operons and adjacent deletion of cssA/B/C and a part of csc, encoding the serogroup C capsule polymerase. This resulted in the loss of encapsulation and intrinsic lipooligosaccharide sialylation that may promote adherence to mucosal surfaces. Furthermore, we detected an IS1301-mediated inversion of an ∼20-kb sequence near the cps locus. Surprisingly, these isolates had acquired by gene conversion the complete gonococcal denitrification norB-aniA gene cassette, and strains grow well anaerobically. The cc11 US_NmUC isolates causing urethritis clusters in the United States may have adapted to a urogenital environment by loss of capsule and gene conversion of the Neisseria gonorrheae norB-aniA cassette promoting anaerobic growth.
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Bartley SN, Mowlaboccus S, Mullally CA, Stubbs KA, Vrielink A, Maiden MCJ, Harrison OB, Perkins TT, Kahler CM. Acquisition of the capsule locus by horizontal gene transfer in Neisseria meningitidis is often accompanied by the loss of UDP-GalNAc synthesis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:44442. [PMID: 28290510 PMCID: PMC5349592 DOI: 10.1038/srep44442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [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: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic meningococci have acquired a 24 kb capsule synthesis island (cps) by horizontal gene transfer which consists of a synthetic locus and associated capsule transport genes flanked by repetitive Regions D and D'. Regions D and D' contain an intact gene encoding a UDP-galactose epimerase (galE1) and a truncated remnant (galE2), respectively. In this study, GalE protein alleles were shown to be either mono-functional, synthesising UDP-galactose (UDP-Gal), or bi-functional, synthesising UDP-Gal and UDP-galactosamine (UDP-GalNAc). Meningococci possessing a capsule null locus (cnl) typically possessed a single bi-functional galE. Separation of functionality between galE1 and galE2 alleles in meningococcal isolates was retained for all serogroups except serogroup E which has a synthetic requirement for UDP-GalNAc. The truncated galE2 remnant in Region D' was also phylogenetically related to the bi-functional galE of the cnl locus suggesting common ancestry. A model is proposed in which the illegitimate recombination of the cps island into the galE allele of the cnl locus results in the formation of Region D' containing the truncated galE2 locus and the capture of the cps island en bloc. The retention of the duplicated Regions D and D' enables inversion of the synthetic locus within the cps island during bacterial growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie N. Bartley
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- The Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Shakeel Mowlaboccus
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- The Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Christopher A. Mullally
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- The Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Keith A. Stubbs
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Alice Vrielink
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Martin C. J. Maiden
- University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom
| | - Odile B. Harrison
- University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy T. Perkins
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- The Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Charlene M. Kahler
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- The Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
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van Ravenhorst MB, Bijlsma MW, van Houten MA, Struben VMD, Anderson AS, Eiden J, Hao L, Jansen KU, Jones H, Kitchin N, Pedneault L, Sanders EAM, van der Ende A. Meningococcal carriage in Dutch adolescents and young adults; a cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort study. Clin Microbiol Infect 2017; 23:573.e1-573.e7. [PMID: 28192234 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2017.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Revised: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Current information on rates and dynamics of meningococcal carriage is essential for public health policy. This study aimed to determine meningococcal carriage prevalence, its risk factors and duration in the Netherlands, where meningococcal C vaccine coverage is >90%. Several methods to identify serogroups of meningococcal carriage isolates among adolescent and young adults were compared. METHODS Oropharyngeal swabs were collected from 1715 participants 13-23 years of age in 2013-2014; 300 were prospectively followed over 8 months. Cultured isolates were characterized by Ouchterlony, real-time (rt-) PCR or whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Direct swabs were assessed by rt-PCR. Questionnaires on environmental factors and behaviour were also obtained. RESULTS A meningococcal isolate was identified in 270/1715 (16%) participants by culture. Of MenB isolates identified by whole genome sequencing, 37/72 (51%) were correctly serogrouped by Ouchterlony, 46/51 (90%) by rt-PCR of cultured isolates, and 39/51 (76%) by rt-PCR directly on swabs. A sharp increase in carriage was observed before the age of 15 years. The age-related association disappeared after correction for smoking, level of education, frequent attendance to crowded social venues, kissing in the previous week and alcohol consumption. Three participants carried the same strain identified at three consecutive visits in an 8-month period. In these isolates, progressively acquired mutations were observed. CONCLUSIONS Whole genome sequencing of culture isolates was the most sensitive method for serogroup identification. Based upon results of this study and risk of meningococcal disease, an adolescent meningococcal vaccination might include children before the age of 15 years to confer individual protection and potentially to establish herd protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- M B van Ravenhorst
- Department of Immunology and Infectious diseases, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Research Centre Linnaeus Institute, Spaarne Hospital, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands
| | - M W Bijlsma
- Academic Medical Centre, Centre of Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Department of Neurology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M A van Houten
- Research Centre Linnaeus Institute, Spaarne Hospital, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands
| | - V M D Struben
- Research Centre Linnaeus Institute, Spaarne Hospital, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands
| | - A S Anderson
- Pfizer Vaccine Research & Development, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - J Eiden
- Pfizer Vaccine Research & Development, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - L Hao
- Pfizer Vaccine Research & Development, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - K U Jansen
- Pfizer Vaccine Research & Development, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - H Jones
- Pfizer Vaccine Research & Development, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - N Kitchin
- Pfizer Vaccine Research & Development, Maidenhead, UK
| | - L Pedneault
- Pfizer Vaccine Research & Development, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - E A M Sanders
- Department of Immunology and Infectious diseases, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - A van der Ende
- Academic Medical Centre, Centre of Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Department of Medical Microbiology and the Netherlands Reference Laboratory for Bacterial Meningitis, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Ó Maoldomhnaigh C, Drew RJ, Gavin P, Cafferkey M, Butler KM. Invasive meningococcal disease in children in Ireland, 2001-2011. Arch Dis Child 2016; 101:1125-1129. [PMID: 27566800 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2015-310215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Revised: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 1999, invasive meningococcal disease was hyperendemic in Ireland at 14.75/100 000 population, with 60% group B and 30% group C diseases. National sepsis guidelines and meningococcal C vaccines were introduced in 2000. Despite a spontaneous decline in group B infection, invasive meningococcal disease remains a leading cause of sepsis. This study characterises the epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease in children in Ireland since the introduction of meningococcal C vaccine and reviews its clinical presentation, hospital course and outcome in anticipation of meningococcal B vaccine introduction. METHODS National surveillance data were obtained from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. A retrospective study of all meningococcal cases at two tertiary paediatric hospitals was conducted from 2001 to 2011. Records were reviewed using a standardised assessment tool. A study of 407 meningococcal cases published in 2002 provided comparative data. RESULTS Of 1820 cases <19 years of age notified nationally, 382 (21%) cases attended a study hospital; 94% group B, 3% group C, 225 (59%) male, median age 5 years (range 0.1-18). Fever was absent at presentation in 18%. Fifteen patients (3.6%) died. 221 (61%) were admitted to paediatric intensive care units (PICU). Permanent sequelae occurred in 9.4%. Compared with the historical cohort, there were differences in presentation, an increase in PICU interventions, but no significant decline in morbidity or mortality. CONCLUSIONS Despite the meningococcal C vaccination campaign, invasive meningococcal disease continues to cause serious morbidity and claim lives. Group B infections remain dominant. As children who die often present with fulminant disease, preventive strategies including use of meningococcal B vaccine are needed to avert death and sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cilian Ó Maoldomhnaigh
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease and Immunology, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Ireland.,Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Temple Street Children's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Richard J Drew
- Irish Meningococcal and Meningitis Research Laboratory, Children's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Clinical Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Patrick Gavin
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease and Immunology, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Ireland.,Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Temple Street Children's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mary Cafferkey
- Irish Meningococcal and Meningitis Research Laboratory, Children's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Clinical Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Karina M Butler
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease and Immunology, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Ireland.,Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Temple Street Children's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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49
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Mehlhorn AJ, Balcer HE, Sucher BJ. Update on Prevention of Meningococcal Disease: Focus on Tetravalent Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine. Ann Pharmacother 2016; 40:666-73. [PMID: 16595570 DOI: 10.1345/aph.1g486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To review the immunogenicity, efficacy, safety, and new recommendations for routine use of the tetravalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4). Data Sources: A MEDLINE search (1966–June 2005) was conducted using the key words Neisseria meningitidis and meningococcal vaccines for clinical trials limited to human research published in the English language. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Randomized, controlled, multicenter trials were reviewed and included to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MCV4. Additional open-label trials on the use of MCV4 in children less than 24 months of age are included since these studies may be used to support the approval of the vaccine for use in children. Literature on epidemiology and pathology of meningococcal meningitis and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations were also reviewed. Data Synthesis: MCV4 is approved for active immunization of adolescents and adults between the ages of 11 and 55 years for the prevention of disease caused by N. meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135. MCV4 has been shown to have comparable immunogenicity and a similar adverse reaction profile to the tetravalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4). It is expected that MCV4 will provide a longer duration of protection from meningococcal disease than MPSV4. Conclusions: Based on published immunogenicity, efficacy, and safety data, as well as the recent recommendations by the ACIP for its routine use, MCV4 is the preferred meningococcal vaccine for persons between 11 and 55 years of age and should be included on pharmacy formularies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allana J Mehlhorn
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administration, Lloyd L Gregory School of Pharmacy, Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, FL, USA
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50
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Barnwal RP, Loh E, Godin KS, Yip J, Lavender H, Tang CM, Varani G. Structure and mechanism of a molecular rheostat, an RNA thermometer that modulates immune evasion by Neisseria meningitidis. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:9426-9437. [PMID: 27369378 PMCID: PMC5100586 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Revised: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 06/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis causes bacterial meningitis and septicemia. It evades the host complement system by upregulating expression of immune evasion factors in response to changes in temperature. RNA thermometers within mRNAs control expression of bacterial immune evasion factors, including CssA, in the 5'-untranslated region of the operon for capsule biosynthesis. We dissect the molecular mechanisms of thermoregulation and report the structure of the CssA thermometer. We show that the RNA thermometer acts as a rheostat, whose stability is optimized to respond in a small temperature range around 37°C as occur within the upper airways during infection. Small increases in temperature gradually open up the structure to allow progressively increased access to the ribosome binding site. Even small changes in stability induced by mutations of imperfect base pairs, as in naturally occurring polymorphisms, shift the thermometer response outside of the desired temperature range, suggesting that its activity could be modulated by pharmacological intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Edmund Loh
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Mikrobiell Patogenes, Gustaf V, Karolinska Sjukhuset 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katherine S Godin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jordan Yip
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Hayley Lavender
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Christoph M Tang
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Gabriele Varani
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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