1
|
Pietri GP, Bertuzzi S, Karnicar K, Unione L, Lisnic B, Malic S, Miklic K, Novak M, Calloni I, Santini L, Usenik A, Romano MR, Adamo R, Jonjic S, Turk D, Jiménez-Barbero J, Lenac Rovis T. Antigenic determinants driving serogroup-specific antibody response to Neisseria meningitidis C, W, and Y capsular polysaccharides: Insights for rational vaccine design. Carbohydr Polym 2024; 341:122349. [PMID: 38876728 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Meningococcal glycoconjugate vaccines sourced from capsular polysaccharides (CPSs) of pathogenic Neisseria meningitidis strains are well-established measures to prevent meningococcal disease. However, the exact structural factors responsible for antibody recognition are not known. CPSs of Neisseria meningitidis serogroups Y and W differ by a single stereochemical center, yet they evoke specific immune responses. Herein, we developed specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting serogroups C, Y, and W and evaluated their ability to kill bacteria. We then used these mAbs to dissect structural elements responsible for carbohydrate-protein interactions. First, Men oligosaccharides were screened against the mAbs using ELISA to select putative lengths representing the minimal antigenic determinant. Next, molecular interaction features between the mAbs and serogroup-specific sugar fragments were elucidated using STD-NMR. Moreover, X-ray diffraction data with the anti-MenW CPS mAb enabled the elucidation of the sugar-antibody binding mode. Our findings revealed common traits in the epitopes of all three sialylated serogroups. The minimal binding epitopes typically comprise five to six repeating units. Moreover, the O-acetylation of the neuraminic acid moieties was fundamental for mAb binding. These insights hold promise for the rational design of optimized meningococcal oligosaccharides, opening new avenues for novel production methods, including chemical or enzymatic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gian Pietro Pietri
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Sara Bertuzzi
- CICbioGUNE, Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 800, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Katarina Karnicar
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins (CIPKeBiP), Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Luca Unione
- CICbioGUNE, Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 800, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain; Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Euskadi Plaza 5, 48009 Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Berislav Lisnic
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Suzana Malic
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Karmela Miklic
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Matej Novak
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ilaria Calloni
- CICbioGUNE, Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 800, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | | | - Aleksandra Usenik
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins (CIPKeBiP), Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | | | - Stipan Jonjic
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Dusan Turk
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins (CIPKeBiP), Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jesús Jiménez-Barbero
- CICbioGUNE, Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 800, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain; Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Euskadi Plaza 5, 48009 Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain; Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, EHU-UPV, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Tihana Lenac Rovis
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Vacca P, Fazio C, Neri A, Ambrosio L, Carannante A, Lista F, Fillo S, Ciammaruconi A, Fortunato A, Stefanelli P. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and genotyping of Neisseria meningitidis of serogroup C, Italy, 2000-2020. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1272123. [PMID: 38235426 PMCID: PMC10791874 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1272123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background In Italy the introduction of meningococcal C conjugate vaccine in 2005 has led to a significant reduction of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by Neisseria meningitidis of serogroup C (MenC). However, this serogroup is still responsible of sporadic cases, clusters and local outbreaks. The study aims to investigate the genotype and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of MenC isolates collected in Italy from 2000 to 2020. Methods Bacterial isolates and biological samples (blood or cerebrospinal fluid) from invasive meningococcal cases are collected and characterized at the National Reference Laboratory for IMD of Istituto Superiore di Sanità. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by MIC Test Strip Method and interpreted according to the EUCAST breakpoints guideline. Genotypic characteristics, including multi locus sequence typing (MLST), finetype, and antimicrobial resistance target genes were performed and analyzed using the PubMLST database. Genomic comparison of core genome MLST (cgMLST) of MenC genomes was also carried out. Results From 2000 to 2020, a total of 665 MenC isolates were investigated for antimicrobial susceptibility and 301 for genotyping. Over two decades, almost all MenC isolates resulted susceptible to antimicrobials with few isolates resulting resistant to ciprofloxacin (N = 2), penicillin G (N = 13), and rifampicin (N = 9), respectively. Molecular typing of MenC obtained from isolates or clinical specimens identified mostly the genotype C:P1.5-1,10-8:F3-6:ST-11(cc11). However, phylogenetic analysis, performed on genomes from MenC isolates, identified two sub lineages, 11.1 and 11.2, among cc11, of which the sub lineage 11.2 was the predominant. Conclusion Wider application of the genomic analysis and monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility represent key aspects of IMD surveillance and to monitor the continued evolution of these hyperinvasive strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paola Vacca
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Cecilia Fazio
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Arianna Neri
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigina Ambrosio
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Carannante
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Florigio Lista
- Scientific Department, Army Medical Centre of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Fillo
- Scientific Department, Army Medical Centre of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Paola Stefanelli
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sereikaitė E, Plepytė R, Petrutienė A, Stravinskienė D, Kučinskaitė-Kodzė I, Gėgžna V, Ivaškevičienė I, Žvirblienė A, Plečkaitytė M. Molecular characterization of invasive Neisseria meningitidis isolates collected in Lithuania (2009-2019) and estimation of serogroup B meningococcal vaccine 4CMenB and MenB-Fhbp coverage. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1136211. [PMID: 36875527 PMCID: PMC9975601 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1136211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis causes invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), which is associated with significant mortality and long-term consequences, especially among young children. The incidence of IMD in Lithuania was among the highest in European Union/European Economic Area countries during the past two decades; however, the characterization of meningococcal isolates by molecular typing methods has not yet been performed. In this study, we characterized invasive meningococcal isolates (n=294) recovered in Lithuania from 2009 to 2019 by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and typing of antigens FetA and PorA. The more recent (2017-2019) serogroup B isolates (n=60) were genotyped by analyzing vaccine-related antigens to evaluate their coverage by four-component (4CMenB) and two-component (MenB-Fhbp) vaccines using the genetic Meningococcal Antigen Typing System (gMATS) and Meningococcal Deduced Vaccine Antigen Reactivity (MenDeVAR) Index methods, respectively. The vast majority (90.5%) of isolates belonged to serogroup B. MLST revealed a predominance of clonal complex 32 (74.02%). Serogroup B strain P1.19,15: F4-28: ST-34 (cc32) accounted for 64.1% of IMD isolates. The overall level of strain coverage by the 4MenB vaccine was 94.8% (CI 85.9-98.2%). Most serogroup B isolates (87.9%) were covered by a single vaccine antigen, most commonly Fhbp peptide variant 1 (84.5% of isolates). The Fhbp peptides included in the MenB-Fhbp vaccine were not detected among the analyzed invasive isolates; however, the identified predominant variant 1 was considered cross-reactive. In total, 88.1% (CI 77.5-94.1) of isolates were predicted to be covered by the MenB-Fhbp vaccine. In conclusion, both serogroup B vaccines demonstrate potential to protect against IMD in Lithuania.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emilija Sereikaitė
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Rūta Plepytė
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Aurelija Petrutienė
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
- Department of Bacteriology, National Public Health Surveillance Laboratory, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Dovilė Stravinskienė
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Vilmantas Gėgžna
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - 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
| | - Aurelija Žvirblienė
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Milda Plečkaitytė
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
- *Correspondence: Milda Plečkaitytė,
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Primary septic arthritis of the knee caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B in an elderly patient. Case report and review of the literature. Infection 2022; 51:499-506. [PMID: 36181635 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-022-01928-2] [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: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Primary meningococcal arthritis (PMA) represents an uncommon clinical presentation of meningococcal infection, mainly reported among young people. Herein, a case of PMA of the knee in an elderly patient is described. CASE PRESENTATION On January 2022, an 87-year-old patient arrived at hospital with continuous fever persisting for three days and a picture of pain, swelling, redness, and warmth of her left knee. An arthrocentesis was promptly performed and the inoculated synovial fluid turned positive with numerous Gram-negative diplococci at the microscopic examination. The identification of bacteria was done in 48 h using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) MS systems (VITEK®MS-bioMérieux) and standard microbiological procedures (VITEK®2 NH ID card-bioMérieux). Both methods identified the strain as N. meningitidis. The meningococcal isolate belonged to the serogroup B (MenB), Sequence type (ST)-162/clonal complex (cc)162. Two grams of ceftriaxone twice a day were administered for 21 days; than cefditoren pivoxil 400 mg twice a day for further 6 weeks after discharge. In Italy, from 2018 to January 2022, among 135 MenB, 31 MenB/cc162 were identified, of which only the case here reported was associated with an atypical clinical presentation. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE A total of 41 cases of PMA caused by N. meningitidis was reported in the literature, but only four occurred in elderly. To our knowledgements, no cases of PMA caused by MenB were previously reported among patients of more than 65 years of age.
Collapse
|
5
|
Fazio C, Daprai L, Neri A, Tirani M, Vacca P, Arghittu M, Ambrosio L, Cereda D, Gramegna M, Palmieri A, Carannante A, Bertoli MR, Crottogini L, Gennati G, Quinz E, Trezzi L, Ciammaruconi A, Fillo S, Fortunato A, Rezza G, Lista F, Stefanelli P. Reactive vaccination as control strategy for an outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis C:P1.5-1,10-8:F3-6:ST-11(cc11), Bergamo province, Italy, December 2019 to January 2020. EURO SURVEILLANCE : BULLETIN EUROPEEN SUR LES MALADIES TRANSMISSIBLES = EUROPEAN COMMUNICABLE DISEASE BULLETIN 2022; 27. [PMID: 35713021 PMCID: PMC9205164 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2022.27.24.2100919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In Italy, serogroup C meningococci of the clonal complex cc11 (MenC/cc11) have caused several outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) during the past 20 years. Between December 2019 and January 2020, an outbreak of six cases of IMD infected with MenC/cc11 was identified in a limited area in the northern part of Italy. All cases presented a severe clinical picture, and two of them were fatal. This report is focused on the microbiological and molecular analysis of meningococcal isolates with the aim to reconstruct the chain of transmission. It further presents the vaccination strategy adopted to control the outbreak. The phylogenetic evaluation demonstrated the close genetic proximity between the strain involved in this outbreak and a strain responsible for a larger epidemic that had occurred in 2015 and 2016 in the Tuscany Region. The rapid identification and characterisation of IMD cases and an extensive vaccination campaign contributed to the successful control of this outbreak caused by a hyperinvasive meningococcal strain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Fazio
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Daprai
- Unit of Microbiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Arianna Neri
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello Tirani
- Health Protection Agency of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Directorate General for Health, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Milena Arghittu
- Chief Medical Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology, ASST Melegnano and Martesana, Milan, Italy.,Laboratory of Microbiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Luigina Ambrosio
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Danilo Cereda
- Directorate General for Health, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Gramegna
- Directorate General for Health, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
| | - Annapina Palmieri
- Department of Cardiovascular, Endocrine-metabolic Diseases and Aging, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Carannante
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Livia Trezzi
- Health Protection Agency of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Fillo
- Scientific Departement, Army Medical Center, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Rezza
- Directorate General of Health Prevention, Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Florigio Lista
- Scientific Departement, Army Medical Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Stefanelli
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Takahashi H, Nakamura M, Matsumoto Y, Yoshino S, Kakita T, Shimuta K, Kamiya H, Saito R, Ohnishi M. Development of a simple and cost-effective gel-based duplex PCR method to identify both encapsulated and unencapsulated Neisseria meningitidis applicable under resource-limited conditions. J Infect Chemother 2021; 27:773-777. [PMID: 33549415 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2021.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Tens of thousands of cases of invasive meningococcal diseases (IMD) with thousands of deaths are reported annually worldwide; however, only approximately 40 cases occur each year in Japan. Therefore, the majority of medical technologists in Japan have never performed or prepared for analyses of the causative agent, Neisseria meningitidis. Since IMD outbreaks have been reported at mass gathering events, the risk of IMD will increase in Japan in 2021 because of the Olympics. In the present study, we developed a new simple gel-based duplex PCR method that may be employed by the majority Japanese clinical laboratories. It is simple to perform and time- and cost-effectively identifies encapsulated and unencapsulated N. meningitidis by detecting the encapsulated N. meningitidis-specific ctrB and N. meningitidis-specific ggt genes. We consider this simple and cost-effective identification method to compensate for the lack of experience and resource-poor conditions in most Japanese laboratories in which N. meningitidis has rarely been examined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hideyuki Takahashi
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Masaki Nakamura
- Division of Bacteriology, Chiba Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yuko Matsumoto
- Clinical Microbiology Section, Division of Inspection Research, Yokohama City Institute of Health, Japan
| | - Shuji Yoshino
- Clinical Microbiology Section, Miyazaki Prefectural Institute for Public Health and Environment, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Kakita
- Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment, Japan
| | - Ken Shimuta
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hajime Kamiya
- Infectious Disease Surveillance Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Saito
- Department of Molecular Microbiology Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan
| | - Makoto Ohnishi
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Fazio C, Biolchi A, Neri A, Tomei S, Vacca P, Ambrosio L, Palmieri A, Mori E, La Gaetana R, Pizza M, Giuliani MM, Serino L, Stefanelli P. Cross-reactivity of 4CMenB vaccine-induced antibodies against meningococci belonging to non-B serogroups in Italy. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2021; 17:2225-2231. [PMID: 33522380 PMCID: PMC8189125 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2020.1855951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The four-component meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (4CMenB) contains antigens present in the majority of meningococci causing invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) and may potentially offer protection against strains belonging to non-B serogroups.This study aimed to evaluate the ability of 4CMenB-induced antibodies to kill, in a human serum bactericidal assay (hSBA), non-B meningococci belonging to the main genotypes responsible for IMD in Italy.Meningococci, collected between 2015 and 2017, was characterized for PorA, FetA and sequence type, and for clonal complex. Twenty non-B isolates, representative of the most frequent genotypes, were molecularly characterized for 4CMenB antigens and tested in hSBA with sera from 4CMenB-vaccinated infants and adolescents.Among twenty isolates, eleven were serogroup C, five were Y, two W and two X. All isolates contained genes encoding for fHbp and NHBA antigens and four harbored the NadA full-length encoding gene. Positive hSBA titers were obtained against all serogroup W, X and Y isolates and against five serogroup C isolates.These data show that the 4CMenB vaccine can induce bactericidal antibodies against genetically representative meningococcal W, Y and X strains from Italy. For serogroup C, different susceptibilities to killing were observed for strains with similar antigenic repertoires.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Fazio
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Arianna Neri
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paola Vacca
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigina Ambrosio
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Annapina Palmieri
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Paola Stefanelli
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Carannante A, Fazio C, Neri A, Lista F, Fillo S, Ciammaruconi A, Vacca P, Stefanelli P. Meningococcal B vaccine antigen FHbp variants among disease-causing Neisseria meningitidis B isolates, Italy, 2014-2017. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241793. [PMID: 33176334 PMCID: PMC7657669 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Typing of Neisseria meningitidis isolates is crucial for the surveillance of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). We performed a molecular epidemiology study of N. meningitidis serogroup B (MenB) causing IMD in Italy between 2014 and 2017 to describe circulating strains belonging to this serogroup, with particular regards to the two factor H-binding protein (FHbp) subfamilies present in the bivalent MenB vaccine. Materials and methods A total of 109 culture positive and 46 culture negative MenB samples were collected within the National Surveillance System (NSS) of IMD in Italy and molecularly analyzed by conventional methods. Results Overall, 71 MenB samples showed the FHbp subfamily A and 83 the subfamily B. The subfamily variants were differently distributed by age. The most frequent variants, A05 and B231, were associated with cc213 and cc162, respectively. All MenB with the FHbp A05 variant displayed the PorA P1.22,14 and 85.7% of them the FetA F5-5. The majority of MenB with the FHbp B231 variant showed the PorA P1.22,14 (65.4%) and 84.6%, the FetA F3-6. Conclusion MenB circulating in Italy were characterized by a remarkable association between clonal complex and FHbp variants, although a high degree of genetic diversity observed over time. A dynamic trend in clonal complexes distribution within MenB was detected. Our results stress the importance of continued meningococcal molecular surveillance to evaluate the potential vaccine coverage of the available MenB vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Carannante
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Cecilia Fazio
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Arianna Neri
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Fillo
- Scientific Department, Army Medical Center, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paola Vacca
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Stefanelli
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Abstract
Teenagers are important carriers of Neisseria meningitidis, which is a leading cause of invasive meningococcal disease. In China, the carriage rate and risk factors among teenagers are unclear. The present study presents a retrospective analysis of epidemiological data for N. meningitidis carriage from 2013 to 2017 in Suizhou city, China. The carriage rates were 3.26%, 2.22%, 3.33%, 3.53% and 9.88% for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. From 2014 to 2017, the carriage rate in the 15- to 19-year-old age group (teenagers) was the highest and significantly higher than that in remain age groups. Subsequently, a larger scale survey (December 2017) for carriage rate and relative risk factors (population density, time spent in the classroom, gender and antibiotics use) were investigated on the teenagers (15- to 19-year-old age) at the same school. The carriage rate was still high at 33.48% (223/663) and varied greatly from 6.56% to 52.94% in a different class. Population density of the classroom was found to be a significant risk factor for carriage, and 1.4 persons/m2 is recommended as the maximum classroom density. Further, higher male gender ratio and more time spent in the classroom were also significantly associated with higher carriage. Finally, antibiotic use was associated with a significantly lower carriage rate. All the results imply that attention should be paid to the teenagers and various measures can be taken to reduce the N. meningitidis carriage, to prevent and control the outbreak of IMD.
Collapse
|
11
|
Fazio C, Neri A, Vacca P, Ciammaruconi A, Arghittu M, Barbui AM, Vocale C, Bernaschi P, Isola P, Galanti IA, Mencacci A, De Nittis R, Chironna M, Giammanco A, Pagani E, Bisbano A, Stefanelli P. Cocirculation of Hajj and non-Hajj strains among serogroup W meningococci in Italy, 2000 to 2016. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 24. [PMID: 30696530 PMCID: PMC6352001 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2019.24.4.1800183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
In Italy, B and C are the predominant serogroups among meningococci causing invasive diseases. Nevertheless, in the period from 2013 to 2016, an increase in serogroup W Neisseria meningitidis (MenW) was observed. This study intends to define the main characteristics of 63 MenW isolates responsible of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Italy from 2000 to 2016. We performed whole genome sequencing on bacterial isolates or single gene sequencing on culture-negative samples to evaluate molecular heterogeneity. Our main finding was the cocirculation of the Hajj and the South American sublineages belonging to MenW/clonal complex (cc)11, which gradually surpassed the MenW/cc22 in Italy. All MenW/cc11 isolates were fully susceptible to cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, penicillin G and rifampicin. We identified the full-length NadA protein variant 2/3, present in all the MenW/cc11. We also identified the fHbp variant 1, which we found exclusively in the MenW/cc11/Hajj sublineage. Concern about the epidemic potential of MenW/cc11 has increased worldwide since the year 2000. Continued surveillance, supported by genomic characterisation, allows high-resolution tracking of pathogen dissemination and the detection of epidemic-associated strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Fazio
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Arianna Neri
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciammaruconi
- Molecular Biology Section, Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Milena Arghittu
- Microbiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Barbui
- Microbiology and Virology Laboratory, Molinette Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Caterina Vocale
- Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Regional Reference Centre for Microbiological Emergencies, St. Orsola Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Patrizia Isola
- Clinical Pathology Department, Azienda USL 6, Livorno, Italy
| | | | - Antonella Mencacci
- Medical Microbiology Section, Dept. of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Maria Chironna
- Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology Department - Hygiene Section, University Hospital, Bari, Italy
| | - Anna Giammanco
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Pagani
- Microbiology and Virology Laboratory, Azienda Sanitaria dell'Alto Adige, Bolzano, Italy
| | | | - Paola Stefanelli
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kharkhal HN, Titov LP. Serogroup diversity and antibiotic susceptibility of Neisseria meningitidis: Meningococcus infection monitoring in Belarus. Acta Microbiol Immunol Hung 2019; 66:443-457. [PMID: 31355666 DOI: 10.1556/030.66.2019.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
This study performed an epidemiological survey of Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated from patients and from asymptomatic carriers. Altogether, 74 N. meningitidis strains (46 invasive and 28 non-invasive) were isolated between February 2011 and May 2018 in different regions of the Republic of Belarus. Serogenotyping was carried out by real-time PCR. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of antibiotics were determined by broth microdilution and results were interpreted in accordance with EUCAST. The serogroups of N. meningitidis were determined as follows: serogroup B - 65%, C - 11%, W - 9%, A - 5%, Y - 4%, and Z and NG - 3% each. The MIC50 and MIC90 for benzylpenicillin (0.032/0.064-0.125 mg/L), ampicillin (0.032/0.125 mg/L), amoxicillin (0.125/0.25 mg/L), cefotaxime (0.016/0.016 mg/L), ceftriaxone (0.002/0.016 mg/L), ciprofloxacin (0.004/0.008 mg/L), chloramphenicol (1/1 mg/L), meropenem (0.008/0.008-0.016 mg/L), tetracycline (0.25/0.5 mg/L), and rifampicin (0.016/0.25 mg/L) were established. Strains with intermediate susceptibility for benzylpenicillin (12.3%), ampicillin (6.8%), and amoxicillin (24.7%) have been identified. In this study, we report the first rifampicin-resistant N. meningitidis in Belarus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna N. Kharkhal
- 1 Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology, The Republican Research and Practical Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Minsk, Republic of Belarus
| | - Leonid P. Titov
- 1 Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology, The Republican Research and Practical Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Minsk, Republic of Belarus
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Filamentation initiated by Cas2 and its association with the acquisition process in cells. Int J Oral Sci 2019; 11:29. [PMID: 31578319 PMCID: PMC6802651 DOI: 10.1038/s41368-019-0063-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cas1-and-Cas2-mediated new spacer acquisition is an essential process for bacterial adaptive immunity. The process is critical for the ecology of the oral microflora and oral health. Although molecular mechanisms for spacer acquisition are known, it has never been established if this process is associated with the morphological changes of bacteria. In this study, we demonstrated a novel Cas2-induced filamentation phenotype in E. coli that was regulated by co-expression of the Cas1 protein. A 30 amino acid motif at the carboxyl terminus of Cas2 is necessary for this function. By imaging analysis, we provided evidence to argue that Cas-induced filamentation is a step coupled with new spacer acquisition during which filaments are characterised by polyploidy with asymmetric cell division. This work may open new opportunities to investigate the adaptive immune response and microbial balance for oral health.
Collapse
|
14
|
Li S, Liu C, Liu Y, Ma Q, Wang Y, Wang Y. Development of a multiple cross displacement amplification combined with nanoparticles-based biosensor assay to detect Neisseria meningitidis. Infect Drug Resist 2019; 12:2077-2087. [PMID: 31406466 PMCID: PMC6642637 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s210735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neisseria meningitidis is a leading pathogen of meningococcal disease in humans worldwide. Multiple cross displacement mplification (MCDA) combined with nanoparticles-based lateral flow biosensor (MCDA-LFB) has been reported for the rapid detection of several bacterial pathogens in recent years. Here, therefore we developed an MCDA-LFB assay for the rapid detection of N. meningitis. METHODS A set of 10 primers specifically to recognize 10 different regions of the ctrA gene of N. meningitidis were designed. MCDA was developed and combined with a LFB to detect the ctrA gene of N. meningitidis. The reaction time and temperature condition for the MCDA-LFB were optimized and then the MCDA-LFB was applied to detect the DNA from clinical samples. RESULTS MCDA-LFB assay was successfully established for the detection of N. meningitidis based on the ctrA gene. The MCDA assay was optimized at 64°C for only 35 mins and the products of amplification were directly sensed by LFB. The whole operation, including DNA template preparation (~20 mins), MCDA reaction (35 mins) and results interpretation (~2 mins) could be finished in no more than 60 mins. The detection limit was as low as 10 fg/reaction (around 3 CFUs/reaction) of pure N. meningitidis DNA, with no cross-reaction with other bacterial DNA. CONCLUSION The MCDA-LFB techniques developed in the present study are an effective tool for the rapid detection of N. meningitidis, especially in resource-poor countries in meningococcal disease epidemic period.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shijun Li
- Laboratory of Bacterial Infectious Disease of Experimental Center, Guizhou Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chunting Liu
- Laboratory of Bacterial Infectious Disease of Experimental Center, Guizhou Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying Liu
- Laboratory of Bacterial Infectious Disease of Experimental Center, Guizhou Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qing Ma
- Laboratory of Bacterial Infectious Disease of Experimental Center, Guizhou Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yue Wang
- Laboratory of Bacterial Infectious Disease of Experimental Center, Guizhou Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, Beijing, 10045, People’s Republic of China
- Ministry of Education, National Key Discipline of Pediatrics (Capital Medial University), Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health
, Beijing, 10045, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Neri A, Fazio C, Ambrosio L, Vacca P, Barbui A, Daprai L, Vocale C, Santino I, Conte M, Rossi L, Ciammaruconi A, Anselmo A, Lista F, Stefanelli P. Carriage meningococcal isolates with capsule null locus dominate among high school students in a non-endemic period, Italy, 2012-2013. Int J Med Microbiol 2019; 309:182-188. [PMID: 30878541 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Meningococcal disease incidence in Italy remains quite low in the overall population except for infants. Within a study on carriage isolates among high school students we aimed to define: i) the prevalence of carriage isolates, ii) the phenotypic and iii) the molecular features of meningococci by Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS). A total of 1697 pharyngeal samples from undergraduate students (age range 14-19 years) were collected from 2012 to 2013 from six larger cities in Italy. One hundred and twenty culture positive meningococci (7%) were analyzed. Carriage isolates were sent to the National Reference Laboratory for invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) for PCR-based serogroup identification, Multilocus Sequence Typing, PorA and FetA typing. Moreover, factor H binding protein (fHbp), Neisseria Heparin Binding Antigen (NHBA) and Neisserial adhesin A (NadA) were typed. Core genome MLST (cgMLST) was performed on a subsample of 75 carriage isolates. Capsule null locus (cnl) predominated (47%), followed by serogroup B (27%). The antimicrobial susceptibility profile revealed an high prevalence of reduced susceptibility to penicillin G (54%) and a full susceptibility to ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin and rifampicin. Carriage isolates presented a high genetic diversity: the clonal complexes (ccs) cc1136, cc198 and cc41/44, were the predominant. An high heterogeneity was also observed for PorA and FetA types. The fhbp and nhba genes were identified in all the carriage isolates; only 5% of the carriage isolates presented the nadA gene. The core genome MLST analysis revealed that the majority of the cnl isolates clustered in a distinct group. The evidence gathered during this study provides the estimate of carriage isolates in high school students in a non-epidemic period in Italy that was lower than expected. Moreover, the highest proportion of carriage isolates were cnl and, overall, they were molecular heterogeneous.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Neri
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Cecilia Fazio
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Luigina Ambrosio
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Paola Vacca
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Annamaria Barbui
- Microbiology and Virology Laboratory, Molinette Hospital, Torino, Italy
| | - Laura Daprai
- Microbiology Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Caterina Vocale
- Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Regional Reference Center for Microbiological Emergencies (CRREM), St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Iolanda Santino
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University "Sapienza", Roma, Italy
| | - Marco Conte
- Microbiology Laboratory, AO "Ospedale Domenico Cotugno'', Napoli, Italy
| | - Lucia Rossi
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, University Hospital, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Anna Anselmo
- Scientific Department, Army Medical Center, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Paola Stefanelli
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Diallo K, Coulibaly MD, Rebbetts LS, Harrison OB, Lucidarme J, Gamougam K, Tekletsion YK, Bugri A, Toure A, Issaka B, Dieng M, Trotter C, Collard JM, Sow SO, Wang X, Mayer LW, Borrow R, Greenwood BM, Maiden MCJ, Manigart O. Development of a PCR algorithm to detect and characterize Neisseria meningitidis carriage isolates in the African meningitis belt. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0206453. [PMID: 30517103 PMCID: PMC6281270 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Improved methods for the detection and characterization of carried Neisseria meningitidis isolates are needed. We evaluated a multiplex PCR algorithm for the detection of a variety of carriage strains in the meningitis belt. To further improve the sensitivity and specificity of the existing PCR assays, primers for gel-based PCR assays (sodC, H, Z) and primers/probe for real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays (porA, cnl, sodC, H, E, Z) were modified or created using Primer Express software. Optimized multiplex PCR assays were tested on 247 well-characterised carriage isolates from six countries of the African meningitis belt. The PCR algorithm developed enabled the detection of N. meningitidis species using gel-based and real-time multiplex PCR targeting porA, sodC, cnl and characterization of capsule genes through sequential multiplex PCR assays for genogroups (A, W, X, then B, C, Y and finally H, E and Z). Targeting both porA and sodC genes together allowed the detection of meningococci with a sensitivity of 96% and 89% and a specificity of 78% and 67%, for qPCR and gel-based PCR respectively. The sensitivity and specificity ranges for capsular genogrouping of N. meningitidis are 67% - 100% and 98%-100% respectively for gel-based PCR and 90%-100% and 99%-100% for qPCR. We developed a PCR algorithm that allows simple, rapid and systematic detection and characterisation of most major and minor N. meningitidis capsular groups, including uncommon capsular groups (H, E, Z).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kanny Diallo
- Centre pour le Développement des Vaccins (CVD), Bamako, Mali
- University of Oxford (Department of Zoology), Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Lisa S. Rebbetts
- University of Oxford (Department of Zoology), Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Odile B. Harrison
- University of Oxford (Department of Zoology), Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jay Lucidarme
- Public Health England, (PHE–Vaccine Evaluation Unit), Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Kadidja Gamougam
- Centre de Support en Santé Internationale (CSSI), Ndjamena, Chad
| | | | - Akalifa Bugri
- Navrongo Health Research Centre (NHRC), Navrongo, Ghana
| | - Aliou Toure
- Centre pour le Développement des Vaccins (CVD), Bamako, Mali
| | - Bassira Issaka
- Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire (CERMES), Niamey, Niger
| | - Marietou Dieng
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Dakar, Senegal
| | - Caroline Trotter
- University of Cambridge (Disease Dynamics Unit -Department of Veterinary Medicine), Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Samba O. Sow
- Centre pour le Développement des Vaccins (CVD), Bamako, Mali
| | - Xin Wang
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Atlanta, United States of America
| | - Leonard W. Mayer
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Atlanta, United States of America
| | - Ray Borrow
- Public Health England, (PHE–Vaccine Evaluation Unit), Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Brian M. Greenwood
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Olivier Manigart
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Neisseria meningitidis Antimicrobial Resistance in Italy, 2006 to 2016. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2018; 62:AAC.00207-18. [PMID: 29914967 PMCID: PMC6125500 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00207-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibilities of 866 Neisseria meningitidis invasive strains during 11 years of surveillance in Italy. Two and six strains were resistant to ciprofloxacin and rifampin, respectively. Forty-five percent were penicillin intermediate, associated with hypervirulent serogroup C clonal complex 11. All of the strains were susceptible to cephalosporins.
Collapse
|
18
|
Invasive meningococcal disease in Shanghai, China from 1950 to 2016: implications for serogroup B vaccine implementation. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12334. [PMID: 30120257 PMCID: PMC6098053 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30048-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Serogroup B invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is increasing in China, but little is known about the causative meningococci. Here, IMD and carriage isolates in Shanghai characterised and the applicability of different vaccines assessed. Seven IMD epidemic periods have been observed in Shanghai since 1950, with 460 isolates collected including 169 from IMD and 291 from carriage. Analyses were divided according to the period of meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPV) introduction: (i) pre-MPV-A, 1965–1980; (ii) post-MPV-A, 1981–2008; and (iii) post-MPV-A + C, 2009–2016. Over this period, IMD incidence decreased from 55.4/100,000 to 0.71 then to 0.02, corresponding to successive changes in meningococcal type from serogroup A ST-5 complex (MenA:cc5) to MenC:cc4821, and finally MenB:cc4821. MenB IMD became predominant (63.2%) in the post-MPV-A + C period, and 50% of cases were caused by cc4821, with the highest incidence in infants (0.45/100,000) and a case-fatality rate of 9.5%. IMD was positively correlated with population carriage rates. Using the Bexsero Antigen Sequence Type (BAST) system, fewer than 25% of MenB isolates in the post-MPV-A + C period contained exact or predicted cross reactive matches to the vaccines Bexsero, Trumenba, or an outer membrane vesicle (OMV)-based vaccine, NonaMen. A unique IMD epidemiology was seen in China, changing periodically from epidemic to hyperepidemic and low-level endemic disease. At the time of writing, MenB IMD dominated IMD in Shanghai, with isolates potentially beyond coverage with licenced OMV- and protein-based MenB vaccines.
Collapse
|
19
|
Duan QQ, Lu SQ, Hu YX, Shen SN, Xi BS, Wang XN, Sun WP. A Multiplex PCR Assay Mediated by Universal Primer for the Diagnosis of Human Meningitis Caused by Six Common Bacteria. RUSS J GENET+ 2018. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795418040075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
20
|
Fazio C, Castiglia P, Piana A, Neri A, Mura MS, Caruana G, Vacca P, Anselmo A, Ciammaruconi A, Fortunato A, Palozzi AM, Fillo S, Lista F, Stefanelli P. Pericarditis Caused by Hyperinvasive Strain of Neisseria meningitidis, Sardinia, Italy, 2015. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 22:1136-7. [PMID: 27191370 PMCID: PMC4880104 DOI: 10.3201/eid2206.160160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
|
21
|
Zhang A, Zhao P, Zhu B, Shi F, Xu L, Gao Y, Xie N, Shao Z. Characterization and Distribution of the autB Gene in Neisseria meningitidis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:436. [PMID: 29057217 PMCID: PMC5635059 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We aimed to investigate and understand the characterization and distribution of the autB gene in Neisseria meningitidis in China. autB is flanked by two conservative genes, smpB and glcD, and it can be present in the majority of meningococcal isolates, but not in 053442 of clonal complex 4821 (CC4821) which contains a 968 bp sequence. In this study, we sequenced the intervenient region between smpB and glcD in 178 Chinese N. meningitidis strains isolated from both patients and carriers. There were 110 serogroupable strains, other 68 were non-groupable (NG). Ninety nine of the 178 strains were clustered into 13 CCs, the remaining 79 were unassigned (UA). CC4821 is one of the dominant CCs in China. Forty of the 42 CC4821 strains and 26 of the 79 UA strains were autB-null, while the remaining 12 CCs were autB-positive. According to the N-terminal sequence, most (97/112) of the autB-positive strains were clustered into AutB1 and the remaining 15 were AutB2. The autB gene and its flanking intergenic sequences was superseded by a perfectly conservative sequence of an identical 968 bp in all of the autB-null N. meningitidis strains which had no identity with the relatively conservative intergenic sequences that flanked the autB gene in autB-positive strains. There was a 10 bp DNA uptake sequence (DUS) at the beginning of the interval 968 bp sequence in the autB-null strains while there was a 9 bp Haemophilus-specific uptake sequence (hUS) at the beginning of the partial holB gene and at the end of the partial tmk gene in autB-positive strains, holB and tmk gene were flanking the autB gene in Haemophilus. In conclusion, not all pathogenic N. meningitidis strains especially CC4821 possess the autB gene in China and the corresponding spacer region of the autB-null strains was not homologous to that found in autB-positive strains. There's a hypothesis that the DUS and hUS are likely to play a key part in the mechanism of uptake or loss of the autB gene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aiyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Pan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Bingqing Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Fenglin Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Li Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Na Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Zhujun Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Mirzakhani K, Gargari SLM, Rasooli I, Rasoulinejad S. Development of a DNA Aptamer for Screening Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup B by Cell SELEX. IRANIAN BIOMEDICAL JOURNAL 2017; 22:193-201. [PMID: 28941453 PMCID: PMC5889504 DOI: 10.22034/ibj.22.3.193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2017] [Revised: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background Artificial oligonucleotides like DNA or RNA aptamers can be used as biodiagnostic alternatives for antibodies to detect pathogens. Comparing to antibodies, artificial oligonucleotides are produced easily at lower costs and are more stable. Neisseria meningitidis, the causative agent of meningitis, is responsible for about 1% of infections in an epidemic period. Specific DNA aptamers that bind to N. meningitidis serogroup B were identified by whole-cell Systemic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential Enrichment (SELEX). Methods The SELEX begins with a library of labeled ssDNA molecules. After six rounds of selection and two rounds of counter-selection, 60 clones were obtained, of which the binding efficiency of 21 aptamers to the aforementioned bacterium was tested by flow cytometry. Results The aptamers K3 and K4 showed the highest affinity to N. meningitidis serogroup B and no affinity to N. meningitidis serogroups Y, A, and C, or to other meningitis causing bacteria. The dissociation constant (Kd value) for K3 and K4 were calculated as 28.3±8.9 pM and 39.1±8.6 pM, respectively. K3 aptamer with the lowest Kd was chosen as the main aptamer. K3 could detect N. meningitidis in patients’ cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples and in CSF from healthy volunteers inoculated with N. meningitidis serogroup B (ATCC 13090) at 200 and 100 CFU ml-1, respectively. Conclusion The findings suggest the application of the developed aptamer in specific detection of N. meningitidis serogroup B amongst a group of meningitis causing bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kimia Mirzakhani
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Iraj Rasooli
- Department of Biology, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
- Molecular Microbiology Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
| | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Shi F, Zhang A, Zhu B, Gao Y, Xu L, Li Y, Yin Z, Li J, Xie N, Shao Z. Prevalence of factor H Binding Protein sub-variants among Neisseria meningitidis in China. Vaccine 2017; 35:2343-2350. [PMID: 28351732 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.03.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2016] [Revised: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the prevalence of the fHbp genes in Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis) isolates for further evaluation and development of serogroup B meningococcal vaccines in China. METHODS A panel of 1012 N. meningitidis strains was selected from the national culture collection from 1956 to 2016, according to the years of isolation, locations, and strain sources. These were tested by FHbp variant typing. Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) was performed on 822 of these samples, including 242 strains from clinical strains and 580 carrier-derived strains. Analysis based on sequence types, serogroups, and FHbp variations were used to summarize the prevalence and characteristics of N. meningitidis. RESULTS There were 8 serogroups of N. meningitidis as well as a collection of nongroupable strains in this study. 1008 of 1012 N. meningitidis strains tested were positive for the fHbp gene. Serogroup A N. meningitidis (MenA) strains belonging to ST-1 and ST-5 clonal complexes harbored genes only encoding variant 1 (v1) FHbp. All MenW strains encoded v2 FHbp. 61.9% of clinical MenB strains were positive for v2 FHbp vs. 32.1% that were positive for v1. Among fHbp-positive carrier-derived MenB strains, v2 FHbp accounted for 90.8%. 79.7% of clinical MenC strains were positive for v1 FHbp and 20.3% were positive for v2 FHbp. Among carrier-derived MenC strains, v2 FHbp predominated. The number of major serogroups of N. meningitidis analyzed by MLST was 822, and the encoded FHbp showed CC- or ST-specific characteristics. CONCLUSION fHbp genes were detected in almost all N. meningitidis strains in this study. Therefore, it is possible that a vaccine against MenB or meningococci irrespective of serogroups, which includes FHbp, could be developed. Meningococcal vaccine development for China is a complex issue and these findings warrant further attention with respect to vaccine development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fenglin Shi
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Aiyu Zhang
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingqing Zhu
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Gao
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Xu
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yixing Li
- Department of National Immunization Program, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zundong Yin
- Department of National Immunization Program, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Junhong Li
- Department of National Immunization Program, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Na Xie
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China; School of Public Health, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China; Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhujun Shao
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis, a devastating pathogen exclusive to humans, expresses capsular polysaccharides that are the major meningococcal virulence determinants and the basis for successful meningococcal vaccines. With rare exceptions, the expression of capsule (serogroups A, B, C, W, X, Y) is required for systemic invasive meningococcal disease. Changes in capsule expression or structure (e.g. hypo- or hyper-encapsulation, capsule "switching", acetylation) can influence immunologic diagnostic assays or lead to immune escape. The loss or down-regulation of capsule is also critical in meningococcal biology facilitating meningococcal attachment, microcolony formation and the carriage state at human mucosal surfaces. Encapsulated meningococci contain a cps locus with promoters located in an intergenic region between the biosynthesis and the conserved capsule transport operons. The cps intergenic region is transcriptionally regulated (and thus the amount of capsule expressed) by IS element insertion, by a two-component system, MisR/MisS and through sequence changes that result in post-transcriptional RNA thermoregulation. Reversible on-off phase variation of capsule expression is controlled by slipped strand mispairing of homo-polymeric tracts and by precise insertion and excision of IS elements (e.g. IS1301) in the biosynthesis operon. Capsule structure can be altered by phase-variable expression of capsular polymer modification enzymes or "switched" through transformation and homologous recombination of different polymerases. Understanding the complex regulation of meningococcal capsule has important implications for meningococcal biology, pathogenesis, diagnostics, current and future vaccine development and vaccine strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yih-Ling Tzeng
- a Department of Medicine , Emory University School of Medicine, Woodruff Health Sciences Center , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Jennifer Thomas
- a Department of Medicine , Emory University School of Medicine, Woodruff Health Sciences Center , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - David S Stephens
- a Department of Medicine , Emory University School of Medicine, Woodruff Health Sciences Center , Atlanta , GA , USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Genome-based study of a spatio-temporal cluster of invasive meningococcal disease due to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C, clonal complex 11. J Infect 2016; 73:136-44. [PMID: 27235364 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2016.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Revised: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe a spatio-temporal cluster of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) due to serogroup C meningococci, occurred in a restricted area of Tuscany between January and October 2015, and the results of whole genome sequencing (WGS). METHODS Surveillance activities and public health measures were implemented in the Region. Bacterial isolates from IMD cases were characterized by the National Reference Laboratory of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), and WGS was performed on available strains. The kSNP software was used to identify core genome SNPs. RESULTS Overall, 28 IMD cases due to meningococcus C were identified up to 31st October, 2015. Of them, 26 were due to meningococcus C:P1.5-1,10-8: F3-6:ST-11 (cc11) and 2 to C:P1.5-1,10-8: F3-6:ST-2780 (cc11). WGS of 13 meningococci isolated during the outbreak occurred in Tuscany in 2015 showed higher similarity when compared with those of 47 C: P1.5-1,10-8: F3-6:ST-11 (cc11) invasive strains from sporadic cases previously detected in Italy. CONCLUSIONS A highly aggressive meningococcal C strain was involved in the cluster of severe IMD occurred in Tuscany, a Region with high vaccine coverage among children. Whether this was due to low herd immunity related to the short duration of vaccine protection needs further investigation.
Collapse
|
26
|
Fazio C, Neri A, Renna G, Vacca P, Antonetti R, Barbui AM, Daprai L, Lanzafame P, Rossi L, Santino I, Tascini C, Vocale C, Stefanelli P. Persistent occurrence of serogroup Y/sequence type (ST)-23 complex invasive meningococcal disease among patients aged five to 14 years, Italy, 2007 to 2013. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 20:30061. [PMID: 26606870 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2015.20.45.30061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 09/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In Italy, the incidence of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) has remained stable since 2007 (around 0.3 cases/100,000 inhabitants). However, as reported for other European countries, an increase of serogroup Y Neisseria meningitidis has been observed. In this study we report IMD cases from 2007 to 2013 in Italy and investigate the clinical and epidemiological features of cases affected by serogroup Y. Molecular characteristics of serogroup Y strains are also described. During the study period, the proportion of IMD cases due to serogroup Y increased, ranging from 2% in 2007 to 17% in 2013 (odds ratio (OR): 8.8), whereby the five to 14 years age group was mostly affected (p < 0.001). Overall 81 serogroup Y IMD cases were identified, with a median age of 18 years, ranging from three months to 84 years. Of the 81 respective patient samples, 56 were further subject to molecular typing. The sequence type (ST)-23 complex (clonal complex (cc)23) was predominant among serogroup Y meningococci (54/56 samples), and included nine different STs. Presumably, ST-23 was the founding genotype, with all the other STs presenting as single-locus variants. All cc23 isolates analysed harboured mutations in the lpxL1 gene; however, no associations among lpxL1 mutations, ST and age group were identified. Overall, these findings generate scientific evidence for the use of the quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine in the five to 14 years age group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Fazio
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic & Immuno-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Kaur G, Paliwal A, Tomar M, Gupta V. Detection of Neisseria meningitidis using surface plasmon resonance based DNA biosensor. Biosens Bioelectron 2016; 78:106-110. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2015.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Revised: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
28
|
Iroh Tam PY, Hernandez-Alvarado N, Schleiss MR, Hassan-Hanga F, Onuchukwu C, Umoru D, Obaro SK. Molecular Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae on Dried Blood Spots from Febrile Nigerian Children Compared to Culture. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0152253. [PMID: 27007889 PMCID: PMC4805257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Nigeria has one of the highest burdens of pneumococcal disease in the world, but accurate surveillance is lacking. Molecular detection of infectious pathogens in dried blood spots (DBS) is an ideal method for surveillance of infections in resource-limited settings because of its low cost, minimal blood volumes involved, and ease of storage at ambient temperature. Our study aim was to evaluate a Streptococcus pneumoniae real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) assay on DBS from febrile Nigerian children on Whatman 903 and FTA filter papers, compared to the gold standard of culture. Methods Between September 2011 to May 2015, blood was collected from children 5 years of age or under who presented to six hospital study sites throughout northern and central Nigeria with febrile illness, and inoculated into blood culture bottles or spotted onto Whatman 903 or FTA filter paper. Culture and rt-PCR were performed on all samples. Results A total of 537 DBS specimens from 535 children were included in the study, of which 15 were culture-positive for S. pneumoniae. The rt-PCR assay detected S. pneumoniae in 12 DBS specimens (2.2%). One positive rt-PCR result was identified in a culture-negative specimen from a high-risk subject, and two positive rt-PCR results were negative on repeat testing. Six culture-confirmed cases of S. pneumoniae bacteremia were missed. Compared to culture, the overall sensitivities of Whatman 903 and FTA DBS for detection of S. pneumoniae were 57.1% (95% CI 18.4–90.1%) and 62.5% (95% CI 24.5–91.5%), respectively. Nonspecific amplification was noted in an additional 22 DBS (4.1%). Among these, six were positive for a non-S. pneumoniae pathogen on culture. Conclusions Rt-PCR was able to detect S. pneumoniae from clinical DBS specimens, including from a culture-negative specimen. Our findings show promise of this approach as a surveillance diagnostic, but also raise important cautionary questions. Several DBS specimens were detected as S. pneumoniae by rt-PCR despite growth of a non-S. pneumoniae pathogen on culture. A precise definition of what constitutes a positive result is required to avoid falsely over-identifying specimens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pui-Ying Iroh Tam
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Translational Research, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Nelmary Hernandez-Alvarado
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Translational Research, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Mark R. Schleiss
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Translational Research, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | | | - Chuma Onuchukwu
- Department of Paediatrics, Federal Medical Center, Keffi, Nasarawa, Nigeria
| | - Dominic Umoru
- Department of Paediatrics, Nyanya General Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Stephen K. Obaro
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Lee D, Kim EJ, Kilgore PE, Takahashi H, Ohnishi M, Tomono J, Miyamoto S, Omagari D, Kim DW, Seki M. A Novel Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Serogroup Identification of Neisseria meningitidis in Cerebrospinal Fluid. Front Microbiol 2016; 6:1548. [PMID: 26793181 PMCID: PMC4709847 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We have developed a novel Neisseria meningitidis serogroup-specific loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for six of the most common meningococcal serogroups (A, B, C, W, X, and Y). The assay was evaluated using a set of 31 meningococcal LAMP assay positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from 1574 children with suspected meningitis identified in prospective surveillance between 1998 and 2002 in Vietnam, China, and Korea. Primer specificity was validated using 15 N. meningitidis strains (including serogroups A, B, C, E, W, X, Y, and Z) and 19 non-N. meningitidis species. The N. meningitidis serogroup LAMP detected down to ten copies and 100 colony-forming units per reaction. Twenty-nine CSF had N. meningitidis serogroup identified by LAMP compared with two CSF in which N. meningitidis serogroup was identified by culture and multi-locus sequence typing. This is the first report of a serogroup-specific identification assay for N. meningitidis using the LAMP method. Our results suggest that this assay will be a rapid, sensitive, and uniquely serogroup-specific assay with potential for application in clinical laboratories and public health surveillance systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- DoKyung Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Hanyang UniversityAnsan, South Korea; Institute of Pharmacological Research, Hanyang UniversityAnsan, South Korea
| | - Eun Jin Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Hanyang UniversityAnsan, South Korea; Institute of Pharmacological Research, Hanyang UniversityAnsan, South Korea
| | - Paul E Kilgore
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Wayne State University Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Hideyuki Takahashi
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makoto Ohnishi
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Daisuke Omagari
- Nihon University School of DentistryTokyo, Japan; Dental Research Center, Nihon University School of DentistryTokyo, Japan
| | - Dong Wook Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Hanyang UniversityAnsan, South Korea; Institute of Pharmacological Research, Hanyang UniversityAnsan, South Korea
| | - Mitsuko Seki
- Nihon University School of DentistryTokyo, Japan; Dental Research Center, Nihon University School of DentistryTokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Molecular Diagnostics: Huge Impact on the Improvement of Public Health in China. Mol Microbiol 2016. [DOI: 10.1128/9781555819071.ch21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
31
|
Litschko C, Romano MR, Pinto V, Claus H, Vogel U, Berti F, Gerardy-Schahn R, Fiebig T. The capsule polymerase CslB of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup L catalyzes the synthesis of a complex trimeric repeating unit comprising glycosidic and phosphodiester linkages. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:24355-66. [PMID: 26286750 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.678094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis is a human pathogen causing bacterial meningitis and sepsis. The capsular polysaccharide surrounding N. meningitidis is a major virulence factor. The capsular polysaccharide consists of polyhexosamine phosphates in N. meningitidis serogroups A and X. The capsule polymerases (CPs) of these serogroups are members of the Stealth protein family comprising d-hexose-1-phosphate transferases from bacterial and protozoan pathogens. CslA, one of two putative CPs of the pathophysiologically less relevant N. meningitidis serogroup L, is one of the smallest known Stealth proteins and caught our attention for structure-function analyses. Because the N. meningitidis serogroup L capsule polymer consists of a trimeric repeating unit ([→3)-β-d-GlcNAc-(1→3)-β-d-GlcNAc-(1→3)-α-d-GlcNAc-(1→OPO3→]n), we speculated that the two predicted CPs (CslA and CslB) work together in polymer production. Consequently, both enzymes were cloned, overexpressed, and purified as recombinant proteins. Contrary to our expectation, enzymatic testing identified CslB to be sufficient to catalyze the synthesis of the complex trimeric N. meningitidis serogroup L capsule polymer repeating unit. No polymerase activity was detected for CslA, although the enzyme facilitated the hydrolysis of UDP-GlcNAc. Bioinformatics analyses identified two glycosyltransferase (GT) domains in CslB. The N-terminal domain modeled with 100% confidence onto a number of GT-A folded proteins, whereas the C-terminal domain modeled with 100% confidence onto TagF, a GT-B folded teichoic acid polymerase from Staphylococcus epidermidis. Amino acid positions known to have critical catalytic functions in the template proteins were conserved in CslB, and their point mutation abolished enzyme activity. CslB represents an enzyme of so far unique complexity regarding both the catalyzed reaction and enzyme architecture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christa Litschko
- From the Institute for Cellular Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Vittoria Pinto
- Research, GSK Vaccines, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy, and
| | - Heike Claus
- the Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Vogel
- the Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Francesco Berti
- Research, GSK Vaccines, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy, and
| | - Rita Gerardy-Schahn
- From the Institute for Cellular Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Timm Fiebig
- From the Institute for Cellular Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany,
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Xu Z, Du P, Zhu B, Xu L, Wang H, Gao Y, Zhou H, Zhang W, Chen C, Shao Z. Phylogenetic study of clonal complex (CC)198 capsule null locus (cnl) genomes: A distinctive group within the species Neisseria meningitidis. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2015; 34:372-7. [PMID: 26171575 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2015.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/11/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Capsule null locus (cnl) strains, one type of specific unencapsulated Neisseria spp., only have regions D and E of the capsule gene cluster which encodes the genes for capsule biosynthesis, modification, and transportation. Compared with encapsulated strains, regions A and C of cnl strains have been replaced by 113 or 114 bp conserved non-coding sequences. Cnl strains include multiple clonal complexes (CC). According to previous studies, CC198 is the major clonal lineage in both cnl patients and healthy cnl carriers. We hypothesized that CC198 possesses different genome characteristics compared with other cnl strains. In this study, we obtained the draft genomes of two CC198 strains from healthy carriers. Using 75071 single nucleotide polymorphisms located in 1163 core genes, we constructed the phylogenetic relationships between a batch of representative Neisseria meningitidis genomes. CC198 and CC1136 clustered together, but apart from other N. meningitidis strains including CC53. We also aligned the sequences of genes located in regions D and E of the capsule gene locus from encapsulated and unencapsulated strains. A number of possible recombination events were identified in the galE and tex genes between different serogroups of encapsulated N. meningitidis and CC53 strains, especially in tex. In contrast, there is almost no recombination in N. meningitidis CC198 strains. These results showed that CC198 belongs to a phylogenetically distinct group within the species N. meningitidis, which may be directly derived from the cnl-type ancestor of N. meningitidis. The encapsulated strains may acquire other necessary genes for capsule formation by horizontal transfer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Xu
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, and State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Pengcheng Du
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, and State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingqing Zhu
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, and State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Xu
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, and State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiyin Wang
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, and State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Gao
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, and State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Haijian Zhou
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, and State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen Zhang
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, and State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Chen
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, and State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhujun Shao
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, and State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Rojas E, Hoyos J, Oldfield NJ, Lee P, Flint M, Jones CH, Ala’Aldeen DAA, Jansen KU, Anderson AS. Optimization of Molecular Approaches to Genogroup Neisseria meningitidis Carriage Isolates and Implications for Monitoring the Impact of New Serogroup B Vaccines. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132140. [PMID: 26147212 PMCID: PMC4493136 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2014] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The reservoir for Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) is the human oropharynx. Implementation of Nm serogroup C (NmC) glycoconjugate vaccines directly reduced NmC carriage. Prophylactic vaccines are now available to prevent disease caused by the five major Nm disease causing serogroups (ABCWY). Nm serogroup B (NmB) vaccines are composed of antigens that are conserved across Nm serogroups and therefore have the potential to impact all Nm carriage. To assess the effect of these vaccines on carriage, standardized approaches to identify and group Nm are required. Real-time PCR (rt-PCR) capsule grouping assays that were internally controlled to confirm Nm species were developed for eight serogroups associated with carriage (A, B, C, E, W, X, Y and Z). The grouping scheme was validated using diverse bacterial species associated with carriage and then used to evaluate a collection of diverse Nm carriage isolates (n=234). A scheme that also included porA and ctrA probes was able to speciate the isolates, while ctrA also provided insights on the integrity of the polysaccharide loci. Isolates were typed for the Nm vaccine antigen factor H binding protein (fHbp), and were found to represent the known diversity of this antigen. The porA rt-PCR yielded positive results with all 234 of the Nm carriage isolates. Genogrouping assays classified 76.5% (179/234) of these isolates to a group, categorized 53 as nongenogroupable (NGG) and two as mixed results. Thirty seven NGG isolates evidenced a disrupted capsular polysaccharide operon judged by a ctrA negative result. Only 28.6% (67/234) of the isolates were serogrouped by slide agglutination (SASG), highlighting the reduced capability of carriage strains to express capsular polysaccharide. These rt-PCR assays provide a comprehensive means to identify and genogroup N. meningitidis in carriage studies used to guide vaccination strategies and to assess the impact of novel fHbp containing vaccines on meningococcal carriage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Rojas
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | - Johanna Hoyos
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | - Neil J. Oldfield
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Philip Lee
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | - Mike Flint
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | - C. Hal Jones
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | | | - Kathrin U. Jansen
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
| | - Annaliesa S. Anderson
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Stefanelli P, Fazio C, Neri A, Boros S, Renna G, Pompa MG. Changing epidemiology of Infant Meningococcal Disease after the introduction of meningococcal serogroup C vaccine in Italy, 2006-2014. Vaccine 2015; 33:3678-81. [PMID: 26087297 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Revised: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Italy, the incidence of Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) was around 0.28 per 100,000 over the last years. Since the risk IMD is usually high among infants aged less than 1 year, we decided to evaluate the trend of IMD cases reported between 2006 and 2014 in this age group. In particular, the study aim was to describe the main characteristics of IMD cases in infants following the introduction of MCC vaccine (2005) and to estimate the number of cases which are potentially preventable through early vaccination. METHODS The National Surveillance System of Bacterial Meningitis was established in 1994 and in 2007 was extended to all invasive bacterial diseases. Clinical data and isolates and/or clinical samples are collected from hospitalized patients throughout the country. IMD cases are reported by clinicians to the local health authorities, and samples are sent to the Reference Laboratory at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità for further characterization and storage at -80°C. In particular, serogroup identification is obtained by agglutination with commercial antisera or by multiplex PCR. RESULTS The annual incidence for infants <1 year old remained rather stable of 3.6 per 100,000, with several upward and downward oscillations and a peak in 2010. The incidence of IMD among infants was more than 10 times higher than the overall rate of IMD observed in Italy. Finally, serogroup B was more frequently detected among infants aged <1 year, accounting for 65% of the total (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS During the study period, IMD incidence reported among infants aged less than one year old was 10 times higher than the overall rate, and serogroup B was the most commonly detected over time. The long-term impact of meningococcal C conjugate vaccine and the effect of the introduction of meningococcal B vaccination among infants need to be evaluated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Stefanelli
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic & Immuno-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | - C Fazio
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic & Immuno-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - A Neri
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic & Immuno-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - S Boros
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic & Immuno-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - G Renna
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic & Immuno-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - M G Pompa
- Ministry of Health, Directorate General for Prevention, Rome, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Chen M, Guo Q, Wang Y, Zou Y, Wang G, Zhang X, Xu X, Zhao M, Hu F, Qu D, Chen M, Wang M. Shifts in the Antibiotic Susceptibility, Serogroups, and Clonal Complexes of Neisseria meningitidis in Shanghai, China: A Time Trend Analysis of the Pre-Quinolone and Quinolone Eras. PLoS Med 2015; 12:e1001838; discussion e1001838. [PMID: 26057853 PMCID: PMC4461234 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fluoroquinolones have been used broadly since the end of the 1980s and have been recommended for Neisseria meningitidis prophylaxis since 2005 in China. The aim of this study was to determine whether and how N. meningitidis antimicrobial susceptibility, serogroup prevalence, and clonal complex (CC) prevalence shifted in association with the introduction and expanding use of quinolones in Shanghai, a region with a traditionally high incidence of invasive disease due to N. meningitidis. METHODS AND FINDINGS A total of 374 N. meningitidis isolates collected by the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention between 1965 and 2013 were studied. Shifts in the serogroups and CCs were observed, from predominantly serogroup A CC5 (84%) in 1965-1973 to serogroup A CC1 (58%) in 1974-1985, then to serogroup C or B CC4821 (62%) in 2005-2013. The rates of ciprofloxacin nonsusceptibility in N. meningitidis disease isolates increased from 0% in 1965-1985 to 84% (31/37) in 2005-2013 (p < 0.001). Among the ciprofloxacin-nonsusceptible isolates, 87% (27/31) were assigned to either CC4821 (n = 20) or CC5 (n = 7). The two predominant ciprofloxacin-resistant clones were designated ChinaCC4821-R1-C/B and ChinaCC5-R14-A. The ChinaCC4821-R1-C/B clone acquired ciprofloxacin resistance by a point mutation, and was present in 52% (16/31) of the ciprofloxacin-nonsusceptible disease isolates. The ChinaCC5-R14-A clone acquired ciprofloxacin resistance by horizontal gene transfer, and was found in 23% (7/31) of the ciprofloxacin-nonsusceptible disease isolates. The ciprofloxacin nonsusceptibility rate was 47% (7/15) among isolates from asymptomatic carriers, and nonsusceptibility was associated with diverse multi-locus sequence typing profiles and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns. As detected after 2005, ciprofloxacin-nonsusceptible strains were shared between some of the patients and their close contacts. A limitation of this study is that isolates from 1986-2004 were not available and that only a small sample of convenience isolates from 1965-1985 were available. CONCLUSIONS The increasing prevalence of ciprofloxacin resistance since 2005 in Shanghai was associated with the spread of hypervirulent lineages CC4821 and CC5. Two resistant meningococcal clones ChinaCC4821-R1-C/B and ChinaCC5-R14-A have emerged in Shanghai during the quinolone era. Ciprofloxacin should be utilized with caution for the chemoprophylaxis of N. meningitidis in China.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingliang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Antibiotics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinglan Guo
- Institute of Antibiotics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ye Wang
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Zou
- Institute of Antibiotics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Intensive Care Unit, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Gangyi Wang
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaogang Xu
- Institute of Antibiotics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Miao Zhao
- Institute of Antibiotics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fupin Hu
- Institute of Antibiotics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Di Qu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Chen
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Minggui Wang
- Institute of Antibiotics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Xu Z, Zhu B, Xu L, Gao Y, Shao Z. First case of Neisseria meningitidis capsule null locus infection in China. Infect Dis (Lond) 2015; 47:591-2. [PMID: 25728375 DOI: 10.3109/00365548.2015.1010228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive meningococcal diseases are rarely caused by capsule null locus (cnl) strains, which are unencapsulated owing to an absence of capsule synthesis genes. Only a few cases of cnl meningococcemia in severely immunocompromised patients have been reported. Here, we describe and discuss the first case of invasive disease in an immunocompetent patient due to a cnl strain of Neisseria meningitidis in China. We characterize this strain and discuss the special ST-198 complex of cnl.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Xu
- From the 1 National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, and State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention , Beijing , PR China
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Whelan J, Bambini S, Biolchi A, Brunelli B, Robert–Du Ry van Beest Holle M. Outbreaks of meningococcal B infection and the 4CMenB vaccine: historical and future perspectives. Expert Rev Vaccines 2015; 14:713-36. [DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2015.1004317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
38
|
Ito H, Sueyoshi M. The genetic organization of the capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis region of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 15. J Vet Med Sci 2014; 77:483-6. [PMID: 25502540 PMCID: PMC4427752 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.14-0203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleotide sequence determination and analysis of the cps gene involved
in the capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis of Actinobacillus
pleuropneumoniae serotype 15 revealed the presence of three open reading
frames, designated as cps15ABC genes. At the protein level, Cps15A and
Cps15B showed considerably high homology to CpsA (67.0 to 68.7%) and CpsB (31.7 to 36.8%),
respectively, of A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes 1, 4 and 12, revealing the
common genetic organization of the cps among serotypes 1, 4, 12 and 15.
However, Cps15C showed no homology to any proteins of A. pleuropneumoniae
serotypes, indicating that cps15C may be specific to serotype 15. This
study will provide the basic molecular knowledge necessary for the development of
diagnostics and a vaccine for A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 15.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroya Ito
- National Institute of Animal Health, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 3-1-5 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0856, Japan
| | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Ao D, Wei L, Hui-Hui G, Ran T, Shi-Qiang S, Yue-Li R. Rapid diagnosis and discrimination of bacterial meningitis in children using gram probe real-time polymerase chain reaction. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2014; 53:839-44. [PMID: 24790023 DOI: 10.1177/0009922814532309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we developed a method of simultaneous detection and discrimination of bacteria in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with gram probe real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Our results showed 25 clinical strains representing 13 gram-positive and 12 gram-negative bacterial species. They were identified correctly with the corresponding gram probe. The standard curve showed that the amplification efficiency of templates with different concentrations of bacteria was almost the same with a potential detection limit of 10 colony-forming units/mL. A total of 482 children who were clinically suspected of bacterial meningitis were included in this study. A total of 1.0 mL of CSF was collected from every child and was subjected to gram probe-based PCR (GP-PCR), CSF culture, and CSF routine analysis. The positive rate of the GP-PCR array was (32/482, 6.64%) significantly higher than that of CSF culture (23/482, 4.77%). GP-PCR was proved to be an excellent technique for rapid and accurate diagnosis and discrimination of bacterial meningitis, and hence its use as a diagnostic tool in future seems very promising.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dong Ao
- Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Wei
- Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Gao Hui-Hui
- Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Ran
- Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shang Shi-Qiang
- Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Rao Yue-Li
- Hospital of PLA, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Cress BF, Englaender JA, He W, Kasper D, Linhardt RJ, Koffas MAG. Masquerading microbial pathogens: capsular polysaccharides mimic host-tissue molecules. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2014; 38:660-97. [PMID: 24372337 PMCID: PMC4120193 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6976.12056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Revised: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria portends an impending postantibiotic age, characterized by diminishing efficacy of common antibiotics and routine application of multifaceted, complementary therapeutic approaches to treat bacterial infections, particularly multidrug-resistant organisms. The first line of defense for most bacterial pathogens consists of a physical and immunologic barrier known as the capsule, commonly composed of a viscous layer of carbohydrates that are covalently bound to the cell wall in Gram-positive bacteria or often to lipids of the outer membrane in many Gram-negative bacteria. Bacterial capsular polysaccharides are a diverse class of high molecular weight polysaccharides contributing to virulence of many human pathogens in the gut, respiratory tree, urinary tract, and other host tissues, by hiding cell surface components that might otherwise elicit host immune response. This review highlights capsular polysaccharides that are structurally identical or similar to polysaccharides found in mammalian tissues, including polysialic acid and glycosaminoglycan capsules hyaluronan, heparosan, and chondroitin. Such nonimmunogenic coatings render pathogens insensitive to certain immune responses, effectively increasing residence time in host tissues and enabling pathologically relevant population densities to be reached. Biosynthetic pathways and capsular involvement in immune system evasion are described, providing a basis for potential therapies aimed at supplementing or replacing antibiotic treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brady F Cress
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Development of multiplex PCR assays for the identification of the 33 serotypes of Streptococcus suis. PLoS One 2013; 8:e72070. [PMID: 23951285 PMCID: PMC3739753 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcussuis is an important zoonotic agent causing severe diseases in pigs and humans. To date, 33 serotypes of S. suis have been identified based on antigenic differences in the capsular polysaccharide. The capsular polysaccharide synthesis (cps) locus encodes proteins/enzymes that are responsible for capsular production and variation in the capsule structures are the basis of S. suis serotyping. Multiplex and/or simplex PCR assays have been developed for 15 serotypes based on serotype-specific genes in the cps gene cluster. In this study, we developed a set of multiplex PCR (mPCR) assays to identify the 33 currently known S. suis serotypes. To identify serotype-specific genes for mPCR, the entire genomes of reference strains for the 33 serotypes were sequenced using whole genome high-throughput sequencing, and the cps gene clusters from these strains were identified and compared. We developed a set of 4 mPCR assays based on the polysaccharide polymerase gene wzy, one of the serotype-specific genes. The assays can identify all serotypes except for two pairs of serotypes: 1 and 14, and 2 and 1/2, which have no serotype-specific genes between them. The first assay identifies 12 serotypes (serotypes 1 to 10, 1/2, and 14) that are the most frequently isolated from diseased pigs and patients; the second identifies 10 serotypes (serotypes 11 to 21 except 14); the third identifies the remaining 11 serotypes (serotypes 22 to 31, and 33); and the fourth identifies a new cps cluster of S. suis discovered in this study in 16 isolates that agglutinated with antisera for serotypes 29 and 21. The multiplex PCR assays developed in this study provide a rapid and specific method for molecular serotyping of S. suis.
Collapse
|
42
|
Doyle CJ, Jennison AV. Novel real-time polymerase chain reactions for serogroup specific gene detection of Neisseria meningitidis serogroups B, C, W-135 and Y. J Microbiol Methods 2013; 94:83-85. [PMID: 23657053 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2013.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2013] [Revised: 04/30/2013] [Accepted: 04/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Novel real-time TaqMan primers and probes were developed to detect the serogroup specific genes of Neisseria meningitidis serogroups B, C, W-135 and Y. These assays were rapid, sensitive, and specific when extensively validated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christine J Doyle
- Public Health Microbiology, Communicable Disease, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Government Department of Health, Australia.
| | - Amy V Jennison
- Public Health Microbiology, Communicable Disease, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Government Department of Health, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Pan-PCR, a computational method for designing bacterium-typing assays based on whole-genome sequence data. J Clin Microbiol 2012; 51:752-8. [PMID: 23254127 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02671-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
With increasing rates of antibiotic resistance, bacterial infections have become more difficult to treat, elevating the importance of surveillance and prevention. Effective surveillance relies on the availability of rapid, cost-effective, and informative typing methods to monitor bacterial isolates. PCR-based typing assays are fast and inexpensive, but their utility is limited by the lack of targets which are capable of distinguishing between strains within a species. To identify highly informative PCR targets from the growing base of publicly available bacterial genome sequences, we developed pan-PCR. This computer algorithm uses existing genome sequences for isolates of a species of interest and identifies a set of genes whose patterns of presence or absence provide the best discrimination between strains in this species. A set of PCR primers targeting the identified genes is then designed, with each PCR product being of a different size to allow multiplexing. These target DNA regions and PCR primers can then be utilized to type bacterial isolates. To evaluate pan-PCR, we designed an assay for the emerging pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. Taking as input a set of 29 previously sequenced genomes, pan-PCR identified 6 genetic loci whose presence or absence was capable of distinguishing all the input strains. This assay was applied to a set of patient isolates, and its discriminatory power was compared to that of multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and whole-genome optical maps. We found that the pan-PCR assay was capable of making clinically relevant distinctions between strains with identical MLST profiles and showed a discriminatory power similar to that of optical maps. Pan-PCR represents a tool capable of exploiting available genome sequence data to design highly discriminatory PCR assays. The ease of design and implementation makes this approach feasible for diagnostic facilities of all sizes.
Collapse
|