1
|
Leong LE, Coldbeck-Shackley RC, McMillan M, Bratcher HB, Turra M, Lawrence A, Kahler C, Maiden MC, Rogers GB, Marshall H. The genomic epidemiology of Neisseria meningitidis carriage from a randomised controlled trial of 4CMenB vaccination in an asymptomatic adolescent population. Lancet Reg Health West Pac 2024; 43:100966. [PMID: 38169944 PMCID: PMC10758868 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Background Oropharyngeal carriage of Neisseria meningitidis is frequent during adolescence, representing a major source of invasive meningococcal disease. This study examined the impact of a serogroup B vaccination (Bexsero, GSK 4CMenB) programme on adolescent N. meningitidis carriage using genomic data. Methods A total 34,489 oropharyngeal samples were collected as part of a state-wide cluster randomised-controlled trial in South Australia during 2017 and 2018 (NCT03089086). Samples were screened for the presence of N. meningitidis DNA by porA PCR prior to culture. Whole genome sequencing was performed on all 1772 N. meningitidis culture isolates and their genomes were analysed. Findings Unencapsulated meningococci were predominant at baseline (36.3% of isolates), followed by MenB (31.0%), and MenY (20.5%). Most MenB were ST-6058 from hyperinvasive cc41/44, or ST-32 and ST-2870 from cc32. For MenY, ST-23 and ST-1655 from cc23 were prevalent. Meningococcal carriage was mostly unchanged due to the vaccination programme; however, a significant reduction in ST-53 capsule-null meningococci prevalence was observed in 2018 compared to 2017 (OR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.30-0.87, p = 0.0106). This effect was larger in the vaccinated compared to the control group (OR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.12-0.98, p = 0.0368). Interpretation While deployment of the 4CMenB vaccination did not alter the carriage of hyperinvasive MenB in the vaccinated population, it altered the carriage of other N. meningitidis sequence types following the vaccination program. Our findings suggest 4CMenB vaccination is unlikely to reduce transmission of hyperinvasive N. meningitidis strains and therefore ongoing targeted vaccination is likely a more effective public health intervention. Funding This work was funded by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lex E.X. Leong
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, SA Pathology, Adelaide 5000, Australia
- UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia
- Microbiome & Host Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Bedford Park, 5042, Australia
| | | | - Mark McMillan
- Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit, Women’s and Children’s Health Network, Adelaide 5000, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| | - Holly B. Bratcher
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Turra
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, SA Pathology, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| | - Andrew Lawrence
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, SA Pathology, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| | | | - Martin C.J. Maiden
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Geraint B. Rogers
- Microbiome & Host Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Bedford Park, 5042, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, Australia
| | - Helen Marshall
- Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit, Women’s and Children’s Health Network, Adelaide 5000, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Carr JP, MacLennan JM, Plested E, Bratcher HB, Harrison OB, Aley PK, Bray JE, Camara S, Rodrigues CMC, Davis K, Bartolf A, Baxter D, Cameron JC, Cunningham R, Faust SN, Fidler K, Gowda R, Heath PT, Hughes S, Khajuria S, Orr D, Raman M, Smith A, Turner DP, Whittaker E, Williams CJ, Zipitis CS, Pollard AJ, Oliver J, Morales-Aza B, Lekshmi A, Clark SA, Borrow R, Christensen H, Trotter C, Finn A, Maiden MCJ, Snape MD. Impact of meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccines on pharyngeal carriage in adolescents: evidence for herd protection from the UK MenACWY programme. Clin Microbiol Infect 2022; 28:1649.e1-1649.e8. [PMID: 35840033 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2022.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Serogroup W and Y invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) increased globally from 2000 onwards. Responding to a rapid increase in serogroup W clonal complex 11 (W:cc11) IMD, the UK replaced an adolescent booster dose of meningococcal C conjugate vaccine with quadrivalent MenACWY conjugate vaccine in 2015. By 2018, vaccine coverage in the eligible school cohorts aged 14-19 years-old was 84%. We assessed the impact of the MenACWY vaccination programme on meningococcal carriage. METHODS An observational study of culture-defined oropharyngeal meningococcal carriage prevalence before and after the start of the MenACWY vaccination programme in UK school students, aged 15-19 years, using two cross-sectional studies: 2014-15 "UKMenCar4" and 2018 "Be on the TEAM" (ISRCTN75858406). RESULTS A total of 10625 participants pre-implementation and 13434 post-implementation were included. Carriage of genogroups C, W, and Y (combined) decreased from 2·03% to 0·71% (OR 0·34 [95% CI 0·27-0·44] p<0·001). Carriage of genogroup B meningococci did not change (1·26% vs 1·23% [95% CI 0.77-1.22] p=0·80) and genogroup C remained rare (n = 7/10625 vs 17/13488, p=0·135). The proportion of serogroup positive isolates, i.e., those expressing capsule, decreased for genogroup W by 53.8% (95% CI -5.0%-79.8%, p=0·016) and for genogroup Y by 30·1% (95% CI 8·9%-46·3%, p=0·0025). CONCLUSIONS The UK MenACWY vaccination programme reduced carriage acquisition of genogroup and serogroup Y and W meningococci and sustained low levels of genogroup C carriage. These data support the use of quadrivalent MenACWY conjugate vaccine for indirect (herd) protection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy P Carr
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK; Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Emma Plested
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | - Parvinder K Aley
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Susana Camara
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Charlene M C Rodrigues
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, UK; Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Kimberly Davis
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Angela Bartolf
- St George's Vaccine Institute, Institute of Infection & Immunity; St George's University of London, UK
| | | | | | | | - Saul N Faust
- NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; and Faculty of Medicine and Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Katy Fidler
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, UK; Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital, University Hospital Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton, UK
| | | | - Paul T Heath
- St George's Vaccine Institute, Institute of Infection & Immunity; St George's University of London, UK
| | - Stephen Hughes
- Royal Manchester Children's Hospital; Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | | | - David Orr
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Mala Raman
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Andrew Smith
- Glasgow Dental Hospital & School, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - David Pj Turner
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham & Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, UK
| | - Elizabeth Whittaker
- Imperial College London, UK; Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Christos S Zipitis
- Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Andrew J Pollard
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Jennifer Oliver
- Bristol Children's Vaccine Centre, University of Bristol, UK
| | | | - Aiswarya Lekshmi
- UK Health Security Agency Meningococcal Reference Unit, Manchester Royal Infirmary Manchester, UK
| | - Stephen A Clark
- UK Health Security Agency Meningococcal Reference Unit, Manchester Royal Infirmary Manchester, UK
| | - Ray Borrow
- UK Health Security Agency Meningococcal Reference Unit, Manchester Royal Infirmary Manchester, UK
| | - Hannah Christensen
- School of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK
| | | | - Adam Finn
- School of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Martin C J Maiden
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, United Kingdom.
| | - Matthew D Snape
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Earle SG, Lobanovska M, Lavender H, Tang C, Exley RM, Ramos-Sevillano E, Browning DF, Kostiou V, Harrison OB, Bratcher HB, Varani G, Tang CM, Wilson DJ, Maiden MCJ. Genome-wide association studies reveal the role of polymorphisms affecting factor H binding protein expression in host invasion by Neisseria meningitidis. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009992. [PMID: 34662348 PMCID: PMC8553145 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Many invasive bacterial diseases are caused by organisms that are ordinarily harmless components of the human microbiome. Effective interventions against these microbes require an understanding of the processes whereby symbiotic or commensal relationships transition into pathology. Here, we describe bacterial genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of Neisseria meningitidis, a common commensal of the human respiratory tract that is nevertheless a leading cause of meningitis and sepsis. An initial GWAS discovered bacterial genetic variants, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), associated with invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) versus carriage in several loci across the meningococcal genome, encoding antigens and other extracellular components, confirming the polygenic nature of the invasive phenotype. In particular, there was a significant peak of association around the fHbp locus, encoding factor H binding protein (fHbp), which promotes bacterial immune evasion of human complement by recruiting complement factor H (CFH) to the meningococcal surface. The association around fHbp with IMD was confirmed by a validation GWAS, and we found that the SNPs identified in the validation affected the 5' region of fHbp mRNA, altering secondary RNA structures, thereby increasing fHbp expression and enhancing bacterial escape from complement-mediated killing. This finding is consistent with the known link between complement deficiencies and CFH variation with human susceptibility to IMD. These observations demonstrate the importance of human and bacterial genetic variation across the fHbp:CFH interface in determining IMD susceptibility, the transition from carriage to disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah G. Earle
- Big Data Institute, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Mariya Lobanovska
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Hayley Lavender
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Changyan Tang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington United States of America
| | - Rachel M. Exley
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Douglas F. Browning
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Vasiliki Kostiou
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Experimental Medicine Division, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Gabriele Varani
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington United States of America
- * E-mail: (GV); (CMT); (DJW); (MCJM)
| | - Christoph M. Tang
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (GV); (CMT); (DJW); (MCJM)
| | - Daniel J. Wilson
- Big Data Institute, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (GV); (CMT); (DJW); (MCJM)
| | - Martin C. J. Maiden
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (GV); (CMT); (DJW); (MCJM)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Chen M, Harrison OB, Bratcher HB, Bo Z, Jolley KA, Rodrigues CM, Bray JE, Guo Q, Zhang X, Chen M, Maiden MC. Evolution of Sequence Type 4821 Clonal Complex Hyperinvasive and Quinolone-Resistant Meningococci. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 27:1110-1122. [PMID: 33754991 PMCID: PMC8007298 DOI: 10.3201/eid2704.203612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Expansion of quinolone-resistant Neisseria meningitidis clone ChinaCC4821-R1-C/B from sequence type (ST) 4821 clonal complex (CC4821) caused a serogroup shift from serogroup A to serogroup C invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in China. To determine the relationship among globally distributed CC4821 meningococci, we analyzed whole-genome sequence data from 173 CC4821 meningococci isolated from 4 continents during 1972–2019. These meningococci clustered into 4 sublineages (1–4); sublineage 1 primarily comprised of IMD isolates (41/50, 82%). Most isolates from outside China (40/49, 81.6%) formed a distinct sublineage, the Europe–USA cluster, with the typical strain designation B:P1.17-6,23:F3-36:ST-3200(CC4821), harboring mutations in penicillin-binding protein 2. These data show that the quinolone-resistant clone ChinaCC4821-R1-C/B has expanded to other countries. The increasing distribution worldwide of serogroup B CC4821 raises the concern that CC4821 has the potential to cause a pandemic that would be challenging to control, despite indirect evidence that the Trumenba vaccine might afford some protection.
Collapse
|
5
|
Tzanakaki G, Xirogianni A, Tsitsika A, Clark SA, Kesanopoulos K, Bratcher HB, Papandreou A, Rodrigues CMC, Maiden MCJ, Borrow R, Tsolia M. Estimated strain coverage of serogroup B meningococcal vaccines: A retrospective study for disease and carrier strains in Greece (2010-2017). Vaccine 2021; 39:1621-1630. [PMID: 33597116 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.01.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is associated with high case fatality rates and long-term sequelae among survivors. Meningococci belonging to six serogroups (A, B, C, W, X, and Y) cause nearly all IMD worldwide, with serogroup B meningococci (MenB) the predominant cause in many European countries, including Greece (~80% of all IMD). In the absence of protein-conjugate polysaccharide MenB vaccines, two protein-based vaccines are available to prevent MenB IMD in Greece: 4CMenB (Bexsero™, GlaxoSmithKline), available since 2014; and MenB-FHbp, (Trumenba™, Pfizer), since 2018. This study investigated the potential coverage of MenB vaccines in Greece using 107 MenB specimens, collected from 2010 to 2017 (66 IMD isolates and 41 clinical samples identified solely by non-culture PCR), alongside 6 MenB isolates from a carriage study conducted during 2017-2018. All isolates were characterized by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), PorA, and FetA antigen typing. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) was performed on 66 isolates to define the sequences of vaccine components factor H-binding protein (fHbp), Neisserial Heparin Binding Antigen (NHBA), and Neisseria adhesin A (NadA). The expression of fHbp was investigated with flow cytometric meningococcal antigen surface expression (MEASURE) assay. The fHbp gene was present in-frame in all isolates tested by WGS and in 41 MenB clinical samples. All three variant families of fHbp peptides were present, with subfamily B peptides (variant 1) occurring in 69.2% and subfamily A in 30.8% of the samples respectively. Sixty three of 66 (95.5%) MenB isolates expressed sufficient fHbp to be susceptible to bactericidal killing by MenB-fHbp induced antibodies, highlighting its potential to protect against most IMD in Greece.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Tzanakaki
- National Meningitis Reference Laboratory (NMRL), Dept of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece.
| | - A Xirogianni
- National Meningitis Reference Laboratory (NMRL), Dept of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | - A Tsitsika
- Second Dept of Paediatrics, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| | - S A Clark
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK
| | - K Kesanopoulos
- National Meningitis Reference Laboratory (NMRL), Dept of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | - H B Bratcher
- Department of Zoology, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK
| | - A Papandreou
- National Meningitis Reference Laboratory (NMRL), Dept of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | - C M C Rodrigues
- Department of Zoology, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK
| | - M C J Maiden
- Department of Zoology, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK
| | - R Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK
| | - M Tsolia
- Second Dept of Paediatrics, Medical School, National Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
MacLennan JM, Rodrigues CMC, Bratcher HB, Lekshmi A, Finn A, Oliver J, Wootton M, Ray S, Cameron C, Smith A, Heath PT, Bartolf A, Nolan T, Hughes S, Varghese A, Snape MD, Sewell R, Cunningham R, Stolton A, Kay C, Palmer K, Baxter D, Suggitt D, Zipitis CS, Pemberton N, Jolley KA, Bray JE, Harrison OB, Ladhani SN, Pollard AJ, Borrow R, Gray SJ, Trotter C, Maiden MCJ. Meningococcal carriage in periods of high and low invasive meningococcal disease incidence in the UK: comparison of UKMenCar1-4 cross-sectional survey results. Lancet Infect Dis 2021; 21:677-687. [PMID: 33482143 PMCID: PMC8064914 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30842-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Background The incidence of invasive meningococcal disease in the UK decreased by approximately four times from 1999 to 2014, with reductions in serogroup C and serogroup B disease. Lower serogroup C invasive meningococcal disease incidence was attributable to implementation of the meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccine in 1999, through direct and indirect protection, but no vaccine was implemented against serogroup B disease. UK Meningococcal Carriage surveys 1–3 (UKMenCar1–3), conducted in 1999, 2000, and 2001, were essential for understanding the impact of vaccination. To investigate the decline in invasive meningococcal disease incidence, we did a large oropharyngeal carriage survey in 2014–15, immediately before the changes to meningococcal vaccines in the UK national immunisation schedule. Methods UKMenCar4 was a cross-sectional survey in adolescents aged 15–19 years who were enrolled from schools and colleges geographically local to one of 11 UK sampling centres between Sept 1, 2014, and March 30, 2015. Participants provided an oropharyngeal swab sample and completed a questionnaire on risk factors for carriage, including social behaviours. Samples were cultured for putative Neisseria spp, which were characterised with serogrouping and whole-genome sequencing. Data from this study were compared with the results from the UKMenCar1–3 surveys (1999–2001). Findings From the 19 641 participants (11 332 female, 8242 male, 67 not stated) in UKMenCar4 with culturable swabs and completed risk-factor questionnaires, 1420 meningococci were isolated, with a carriage prevalence of 7·23% (95% CI 6·88–7·60). Carriage prevalence was substantially lower in UKMenCar4 than in the previous surveys: carriage prevalence was 16·6% (95% CI 15·89–17·22; 2306/13 901) in UKMenCar1 (1999), 17·6% (17·05–18·22; 2873/16 295) in UKMenCar2 (2000), and 18·7% (18·12–19·27; 3283/17 569) in UKMenCar3 (2001). Carriage prevalence was lower for all serogroups in UKMenCar4 than in UKMenCar1–3, except for serogroup Y, which was unchanged. The prevalence of carriage-promoting social behaviours decreased from 1999 to 2014–15, with individuals reporting regular cigarette smoking decreasing from 2932 (21·5%) of 13 650 to 2202 (11·2%) of 19 641, kissing in the past week from 6127 (44·8%) of 13 679 to 7320 (37·3%) of 19 641, and attendance at pubs and nightclubs in the past week from 8436 (62·1%) of 13 594 to 7662 (39·0%) of 19 641 (all p<0·0001). Interpretation We show that meningococcal carriage prevalence in adolescents sampled nationally during a low incidence period (2014–15) was less than half of that in an equivalent population during a high incidence period (1999–2001). Disease and carriage caused by serogroup C was well controlled by ongoing vaccination. The prevalence of behaviours associated with carriage declined, suggesting that public health policies aimed at influencing behaviour might have further reduced disease. Funding Wellcome Trust, UK Department of Health, and National Institute for Health Research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenny M MacLennan
- Department of Zoology, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Charlene M C Rodrigues
- Department of Zoology, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Holly B Bratcher
- Department of Zoology, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Aiswarya Lekshmi
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Public Health Laboratory, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK
| | - Adam Finn
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jenny Oliver
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Mandy Wootton
- Division of Public Health Wales, Temple of Peace and Health, Cardiff, UK
| | - Samantha Ray
- Division of Public Health Wales, Temple of Peace and Health, Cardiff, UK
| | - Claire Cameron
- NHS National Services Scotland, Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow, UK
| | - Andrew Smith
- Glasgow Dental School, University of Glasgow, UK; Scottish Microbiology Reference Laboratory, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Paul T Heath
- St George's Vaccine Institute, Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Angela Bartolf
- St George's Vaccine Institute, Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Tracey Nolan
- Research and Development Department, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Maidstone, Kent, UK
| | - Stephen Hughes
- Central Manchester University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Anu Varghese
- Central Manchester University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Matthew D Snape
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard Sewell
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard Cunningham
- Department of Zoology, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Alison Stolton
- Microbiology Department, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, UK
| | - Carole Kay
- Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, Lancashire, UK
| | - Karen Palmer
- Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, Lancashire, UK
| | - David Baxter
- Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, UK
| | - Debbie Suggitt
- Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, UK
| | - Christos S Zipitis
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Department of Paediatrics, Wrightington Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, Wigan, UK
| | - Nicola Pemberton
- Clinical Trials Department, Wrightington Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, Wigan, UK
| | - Keith A Jolley
- Department of Zoology, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - James E Bray
- Department of Zoology, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Odile B Harrison
- Department of Zoology, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Shamez N Ladhani
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St George's University of London, London, UK; Immunisation and Countermeasures Division, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Andrew J Pollard
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Raymond Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Public Health Laboratory, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK
| | - Stephen J Gray
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Public Health Laboratory, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK
| | - Caroline Trotter
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Martin C J Maiden
- Department of Zoology, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rodgers E, Bentley SD, Borrow R, Bratcher HB, Brisse S, Brueggemann AB, Caugant DA, Findlow J, Fox L, Glennie L, Harrison LH, Harrison OB, Heyderman RS, van Rensburg MJ, Jolley KA, Kwambana-Adams B, Ladhani S, LaForce M, Levin M, Lucidarme J, MacAlasdair N, Maclennan J, Maiden MCJ, Maynard-Smith L, Muzzi A, Oster P, Rodrigues CMC, Ronveaux O, Serino L, Smith V, van der Ende A, Vázquez J, Wang X, Yezli S, Stuart JM. The global meningitis genome partnership. J Infect 2020; 81:510-520. [PMID: 32615197 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.06.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Genomic surveillance of bacterial meningitis pathogens is essential for effective disease control globally, enabling identification of emerging and expanding strains and consequent public health interventions. While there has been a rise in the use of whole genome sequencing, this has been driven predominately by a subset of countries with adequate capacity and resources. Global capacity to participate in surveillance needs to be expanded, particularly in low and middle-income countries with high disease burdens. In light of this, the WHO-led collaboration, Defeating Meningitis by 2030 Global Roadmap, has called for the establishment of a Global Meningitis Genome Partnership that links resources for: N. meningitidis (Nm), S. pneumoniae (Sp), H. influenzae (Hi) and S. agalactiae (Sa) to improve worldwide co-ordination of strain identification and tracking. Existing platforms containing relevant genomes include: PubMLST: Nm (31,622), Sp (15,132), Hi (1935), Sa (9026); The Wellcome Sanger Institute: Nm (13,711), Sp (> 24,000), Sa (6200), Hi (1738); and BMGAP: Nm (8785), Hi (2030). A steering group is being established to coordinate the initiative and encourage high-quality data curation. Next steps include: developing guidelines on open-access sharing of genomic data; defining a core set of metadata; and facilitating development of user-friendly interfaces that represent publicly available data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Rodgers
- Meningitis Research Foundation, Newminster House, 27-29 Newminster House, Baldwin Street, Bristol BS1 1LT, UK.
| | - Stephen D Bentley
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Parasites and microbes, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Ray Borrow
- Public Health England, Meningococcal Reference Unit, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester M13 9WZ, UK
| | | | - Sylvain Brisse
- Institut Pasteur, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
| | - Angela B Brueggemann
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Dominique A Caugant
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jamie Findlow
- Pfizer Limited, Walton Oaks, Dorking Road, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 7NS, UK
| | - LeAnne Fox
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Disease Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States
| | - Linda Glennie
- Meningitis Research Foundation, Newminster House, 27-29 Newminster House, Baldwin Street, Bristol BS1 1LT, UK
| | - Lee H Harrison
- Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | | | - Robert S Heyderman
- NIHR Global Health Mucosal Pathogens Research Unit, Division of Infection & Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Keith A Jolley
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Brenda Kwambana-Adams
- NIHR Global Health Mucosal Pathogens Research Unit, Division of Infection & Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Shamez Ladhani
- Public Health England, Immunisation and Countermeasures Division, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK; Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group (PIDRG), St. George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | | | | | - Jay Lucidarme
- Public Health England, Meningococcal Reference Unit, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester M13 9WZ, UK
| | - Neil MacAlasdair
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Parasites and microbes, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Jenny Maclennan
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Vinny Smith
- Meningitis Research Foundation, Newminster House, 27-29 Newminster House, Baldwin Street, Bristol BS1 1LT, UK
| | - Arie van der Ende
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC and, the Netherlands Reference Laboratory for Bacterial Meningitis, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Xin Wang
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Disease Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States
| | - Saber Yezli
- Ministry of Health, The Global Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bratcher HB, Rodrigues CMC, Finn A, Wootton M, Cameron JC, Smith A, Heath P, Ladhani S, Snape MD, Pollard AJ, Cunningham R, Borrow R, Trotter C, Gray SJ, Maiden MCJ, MacLennan JM. UKMenCar4: A cross-sectional survey of asymptomatic meningococcal carriage amongst UK adolescents at a period of low invasive meningococcal disease incidence. Wellcome Open Res 2019; 4:118. [PMID: 31544158 PMCID: PMC6749934 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15362.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Carriage of
Neisseria meningitidis, the meningococcus, is a prerequisite for invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), a potentially devastating infection that disproportionately afflicts infants and children. Humans are the sole known reservoir for the meningococcus, and it is carried asymptomatically in the nasopharynx of ~10% of the population. Rates of carriage are dependent on age of the host and social and behavioural factors. In the UK, meningococcal carriage has been studied through large, multi-centre carriage surveys of adolescents in 1999, 2000, and 2001, demonstrating carriage can be affected by immunisation with the capsular group C meningococcal conjugate vaccine, inducing population immunity against carriage. Fifteen years after these surveys were carried out, invasive meningococcal disease incidence had declined from a peak in 1999. The UKMenCar4 study was conducted in 2014/15 to investigate rates of carriage amongst the adolescent population during a period of low disease incidence. The protocols and methodology used to perform UKMenCar4, a large carriage survey, are described here.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Holly B Bratcher
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Charlene M C Rodrigues
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Adam Finn
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS2 8AE, UK
| | - Mandy Wootton
- Division of Public Health Wales, Cardiff, CF10 3NW, UK
| | - J Claire Cameron
- NHS National Services Scotland, Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow, G2 6QE, UK
| | - Andrew Smith
- University of Glasgow Dental School, Glasgow, G2 3JZ, UK.,Scottish Microbiology Reference Laboratory, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Glasgow, G2 6QE, UK
| | - Paul Heath
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St George's, University of London, London, SW17 0QT, UK
| | - Shamez Ladhani
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St George's, University of London, London, SW17 0QT, UK.,Immunisation Department, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Matthew D Snape
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Andrew J Pollard
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Richard Cunningham
- Microbiology Department, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, UK
| | - Raymond Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Caroline Trotter
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Stephen J Gray
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Martin C J Maiden
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Jenny M MacLennan
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SY, UK
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Bratcher HB, Rodrigues CMC, Finn A, Wootton M, Cameron JC, Smith A, Heath P, Ladhani S, Snape MD, Pollard AJ, Cunningham R, Borrow R, Trotter C, Gray SJ, Maiden MCJ, MacLennan JM. UKMenCar4: A cross-sectional survey of asymptomatic meningococcal carriage amongst UK adolescents at a period of low invasive meningococcal disease incidence. Wellcome Open Res 2019; 4:118. [PMID: 31544158 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15362.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Carriage of Neisseria meningitidis, the meningococcus, is a prerequisite for invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), a potentially devastating infection that disproportionately afflicts infants and children. Humans are the sole known reservoir for the meningococcus, and it is carried asymptomatically in the nasopharynx of ~10% of the population. Rates of carriage are dependent on age of the host and social and behavioural factors. In the UK, meningococcal carriage has been studied through large, multi-centre carriage surveys of adolescents in 1999, 2000, and 2001, demonstrating carriage can be affected by immunisation with the capsular group C meningococcal conjugate vaccine, inducing population immunity against carriage. Fifteen years after these surveys were carried out, invasive meningococcal disease incidence had declined from a peak in 1999. The UKMenCar4 study was conducted in 2014/15 to investigate rates of carriage amongst the adolescent population during a period of low disease incidence. The protocols and methodology used to perform UKMenCar4, a large carriage survey, are described here.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Holly B Bratcher
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Charlene M C Rodrigues
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Adam Finn
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS2 8AE, UK
| | - Mandy Wootton
- Division of Public Health Wales, Cardiff, CF10 3NW, UK
| | - J Claire Cameron
- NHS National Services Scotland, Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow, G2 6QE, UK
| | - Andrew Smith
- University of Glasgow Dental School, Glasgow, G2 3JZ, UK.,Scottish Microbiology Reference Laboratory, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Glasgow, G2 6QE, UK
| | - Paul Heath
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St George's, University of London, London, SW17 0QT, UK
| | - Shamez Ladhani
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St George's, University of London, London, SW17 0QT, UK.,Immunisation Department, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Matthew D Snape
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Andrew J Pollard
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Richard Cunningham
- Microbiology Department, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, UK
| | - Raymond Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Caroline Trotter
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Stephen J Gray
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Martin C J Maiden
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Jenny M MacLennan
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SY, UK
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Bratcher HB, Brehony C, Heuberger S, Pieridou-Bagatzouni D, Křížová P, Hoffmann S, Toropainen M, Taha MK, Claus H, Tzanakaki G, Erdôsi T, Galajeva J, van der Ende A, Skoczyńska A, Pana M, Vaculíková A, Paragi M, Maiden MC, Caugant DA. Establishment of the European meningococcal strain collection genome library (EMSC-GL) for the 2011 to 2012 epidemiological year. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 23. [PMID: 29790460 PMCID: PMC6152424 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2018.23.20.17-00474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Invasive meningococcal disease surveillance in Europe combines isolate characterisation and epidemiological data to support public health intervention. A representative European Meningococcal Strain Collection (EMSC) of IMD isolates was obtained, and whole genome sequenced to characterise 799 EMSC isolates from the epidemiological year July 2011-June 2012. To establish a genome library (GL), the isolate information was deposited in the pubMLST.org/neisseria database. Genomes were curated and annotated at 2,429 meningococcal loci, including those defining clonal complex, capsule, antigens, and antimicrobial resistance. Most genomes contained genes encoding B (n = 525; 65.7%) or C (n = 163; 20.4%) capsules; isolates were genetically highly diverse, with >20 genomic lineages, five of which comprising 60.7% (n = 485) of isolates. There were >350 antigenic fine-types: 307 were present once, the most frequent (P1.7-2,4:F5-1) comprised 8% (n = 64) of isolates. Each genome was characterised for Bexsero Antigen Sequence Typing (BAST): 25.5% (n = 204) of isolates contained alleles encoding the fHbp and/or the PorA VR1 vaccine component, but most genomes (n = 513; 64.2%) did not contain the NadA component. EMSC-GL will support an integrated surveillance of disease-associated genotypes in Europe, enabling the monitoring of hyperinvasive lineages, outbreak identification, and supporting vaccine programme implementation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Holly B Bratcher
- University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Carina Brehony
- Clinical Science Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Republic of Ireland.,University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Pavla Křížová
- National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Tímea Erdôsi
- National Center for Epidemiology, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | | | | | - Marina Pana
- National Institute of Research and Development for Microbiology and Immunology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alena Vaculíková
- Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Metka Paragi
- National Institute of Public Health, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Martin Cj Maiden
- University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Mulhall RM, Bennett DE, Bratcher HB, Jolley KA, Bray JE, O’Lorcain PP, Cotter SM, Maiden MCJ, Cunney RJ. cgMLST characterisation of invasive Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C and W strains associated with increasing disease incidence in the Republic of Ireland. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216771. [PMID: 31141820 PMCID: PMC6541471 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Since 2013 MenC and MenW disease incidence and associated mortality rates have increased in the Republic of Ireland. From 2002/2003 to 2012/2013, the average annual MenC incidence was 0.08/100,000, which increased to 0.34/100,000 during 2013/2014 to 2017/18, peaking in 2016/17 (0.72/100,000) with an associated case fatality rate (CFR) of 14.7%. MenW disease incidence has increased each year from 0.02/100,000 in 2013/2014, to 0.29/100,000 in 2017/18, with an associated CFR of 28.6%. We aimed to characterise and relate recent MenC isolates to the previously prevalent MenC:cc11 ET-15 clones, and also characterise and relate recent MenW isolates to the novel 'Hajj' clones. METHODS Using WGS we characterised invasive (n = 74, 1997/98 to 2016/17) and carried (n = 16, 2016/17) MenC isolates, and invasive (n = 18, 2010/11 to 2016/17) and carried (n = 15, 2016/17) MenW isolates. Genomes were assembled using VelvethOptimiser and stored on the PubMLST Neisseria Bacterial Isolate Genome Sequence Database. Isolates were compared using the cgMLST approach. RESULTS Most MenC and MenW isolates identified were cc11. A single MenC:cc11 sub-lineage contained the majority (68%, n = 19/28) of recent MenC:cc11 disease isolates and all carried MenC:cc11 isolates, which were interspersed and distinct from the historically significant ET-15 clones. MenW:cc11 study isolates clustered among international examples of both the original UK 2009 MenW:cc11, and novel 2013 MenW:cc11clones. CONCLUSIONS We have shown that the majority of recent MenC disease incidence was caused by strain types distinct from the MenC:cc11 ET-15 clone of the late 1990s, which still circulate but have caused only sporadic disease in recent years. We have identified that the same aggressive MenW clone now established in several other European countries, is endemic in the RoI and responsible for the recent MenW incidence increases. This data informed the National immunisation Advisory Committee, who are currently deliberating a vaccine policy change to protect teenagers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert M. Mulhall
- Irish Meningitis and Sepsis Reference Laboratory, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Desiree E. Bennett
- Irish Meningitis and Sepsis Reference Laboratory, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Holly B. Bratcher
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Keith A. Jolley
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - James E. Bray
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Martin C. J. Maiden
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Robert J. Cunney
- Irish Meningitis and Sepsis Reference Laboratory, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kesanopoulos K, Bratcher HB, Hong E, Xirogianni A, Papandreou A, Taha MK, Maiden MCJ, Tzanakaki G. Characterization of meningococcal carriage isolates from Greece by whole genome sequencing: Implications for 4CMenB vaccine implementation. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0209919. [PMID: 30592763 PMCID: PMC6310245 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Herd protection, resulting from the interruption of transmission and asymptomatic carriage, is an important element of the effectiveness of vaccines against the meningococcus. Whilst this has been well established for conjugate polysaccharide vaccines directed against the meningococcal capsule, two uncertainties surround the potential herd protection provided by the novel protein-based vaccines that are used in place of serogroup B (MenB) polysaccharide vaccines (i) the strain coverage of such vaccines against carried meningococci, which are highly diverse; and (ii) the generation of a protective immune response in the mucosa. These considerations are essential for realistic estimates of cost-effectiveness of new MenB vaccines. Here the first of these questions is addressed by the whole genome sequence (WGS) analysis of meningococci isolated from healthy military recruits and university students in Greece. The study included a total of 71 MenB isolates obtained from 1420 oropharyngeal single swab samples collected from military recruits and university students on voluntary basis, aged 18-26 years. In addition to WGS analysis to identify genetic lineage and vaccine antigen genes, including the Bexsero Antigen Sequence Type (BAST), the isolates were examined with the serological Meningococcal antigen Typing System (MATS) assay. Comparison of these data demonstrated that the carried meningococcal population was highly diverse with 38% of the carriage isolates showed expression of antigens matching those included in the 4CMenB vaccine. Our data may suggest a limited potential herd immunity to be expected and be driven by an impact on a subset of carriage isolates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Kesanopoulos
- National Meningitis Reference Laboratory (NMRL), Dept of Public Health, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece
| | - Holly B. Bratcher
- Department of Zoology, Peter Medawar Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Eva Hong
- Institute Pasteur, Invasive Bacterial Infections Unit, Paris, France
| | - Athanasia Xirogianni
- National Meningitis Reference Laboratory (NMRL), Dept of Public Health, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia Papandreou
- National Meningitis Reference Laboratory (NMRL), Dept of Public Health, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Martin C. J. Maiden
- Department of Zoology, Peter Medawar Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Georgina Tzanakaki
- National Meningitis Reference Laboratory (NMRL), Dept of Public Health, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ganesh K, Allam M, Wolter N, Bratcher HB, Harrison OB, Lucidarme J, Borrow R, de Gouveia L, Meiring S, Birkhead M, Maiden MCJ, von Gottberg A, du Plessis M. Molecular characterization of invasive capsule null Neisseria meningitidis in South Africa. BMC Microbiol 2017; 17:40. [PMID: 28222677 PMCID: PMC5320719 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-017-0942-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The meningococcal capsule is an important virulence determinant. Unencapsulated meningococci lacking capsule biosynthesis genes and containing the capsule null locus (cnl) are predominantly non-pathogenic. Rare cases of invasive meningococcal disease caused by cnl isolates belonging to sequence types (ST) and clonal complexes (cc) ST-845 (cc845), ST-198 (cc198), ST-192 (cc192) and ST-53 (cc53) have been documented. The clinical significance of these isolates however remains unclear. We identified four invasive cnl meningococci through laboratory-based surveillance in South Africa from 2003 through 2013, which we aimed to characterize using whole genome data. Results One isolate [NG: P1.7-2,30: F1-2: ST-53 (cc53)] contained cnl allele 12, and caused empyema in an adult male with bronchiectasis from tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus and a smoking history. Three isolates were NG: P1.18-11,42-2: FΔ: ST-192 (cc192) and contained cnl allele 2. One patient was an adolescent male with meningitis. The remaining two isolates were from recurrent disease episodes (8 months apart) in a male child with deficiency of the sixth complement component, and with the exception of two single nucleotide polymorphisms, contained identical core genomes. The ST-53 (cc53) isolate possessed alleles for NHBA peptide 191 and fHbp variant 2; whilst the ST-192 (cc192) isolates contained NHBA peptide 704 and fHbp variant 3. All four isolates lacked nadA. Comparison of the South African genomes to 61 additional cnl genomes on the PubMLST Neisseria database (http://pubmlst.org/neisseria/), determined that most putative virulence genes could be found in both invasive and carriage phenotypes. Conclusions Although rare, invasive disease by cnl meningococci may be associated with host immunodeficiency and such patients may benefit from protein-based meningococcal vaccines. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-017-0942-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karistha Ganesh
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), A division of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa. .,School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Mushal Allam
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), A division of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Nicole Wolter
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), A division of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa.,School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | | | - Jay Lucidarme
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK
| | - Ray Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK
| | - Linda de Gouveia
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), A division of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Susan Meiring
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), A division of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Monica Birkhead
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), A division of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Anne von Gottberg
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), A division of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa.,School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Mignon du Plessis
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), A division of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa.,School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Weyand NJ, Ma M, Phifer-Rixey M, Taku NA, Rendón MA, Hockenberry AM, Kim WJ, Agellon AB, Biais N, Suzuki TA, Goodyer-Sait L, Harrison OB, Bratcher HB, Nachman MW, Maiden MCJ, So M. Isolation and characterization of Neisseria musculi sp. nov., from the wild house mouse. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2016; 66:3585-3593. [PMID: 27298306 PMCID: PMC5880574 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.001237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the genus Neisseria have been isolated from or detected in a wide range of animals, from non-human primates and felids to a rodent, the guinea pig. By means of selective culture, biochemical testing, Gram staining and PCR screening for the Neisseria-specific internal transcribed spacer region of the rRNA operon, we isolated four strains of the genus Neisseria from the oral cavity of the wild house mouse, Mus musculus subsp. domesticus. The isolates are highly related and form a separate clade in the genus, as judged by tree analyses using either multi-locus sequence typing of ribosomal genes or core genes. One isolate, provisionally named Neisseria musculi sp. nov. (type strain AP2031T=DSM 101846T=CCUG 68283T=LMG 29261T), was studied further. Strain AP2031T/N. musculi grew well in vitro. It was naturally competent, taking up DNA in a DNA uptake sequence and pilT-dependent manner, and was amenable to genetic manipulation. These and other genomic attributes of N. musculi sp. nov. make it an ideal candidate for use in developing a mouse model for studying Neisseria-host interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan J. Weyand
- Department of Immunobiology and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
| | - Mancheong Ma
- Department of Immunobiology and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
| | - Megan Phifer-Rixey
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Nyiawung A. Taku
- Department of Immunobiology and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
| | - María A. Rendón
- Department of Immunobiology and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
| | - Alyson M. Hockenberry
- Department of Immunobiology and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
| | - Won J. Kim
- Department of Immunobiology and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
| | - Al B. Agellon
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Nicolas Biais
- Department of Biology, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
| | - Taichi A. Suzuki
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | | | | | | | - Michael W. Nachman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | | | - Magdalene So
- Department of Immunobiology and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Hill DMC, Lucidarme J, Gray SJ, Newbold LS, Ure R, Brehony C, Harrison OB, Bray JE, Jolley KA, Bratcher HB, Parkhill J, Tang CM, Borrow R, Maiden MCJ. Genomic epidemiology of age-associated meningococcal lineages in national surveillance: an observational cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis 2015; 15:1420-8. [PMID: 26515523 PMCID: PMC4655307 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(15)00267-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Revised: 08/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Background Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a worldwide health issue that is potentially preventable with vaccination. In view of its sporadic nature and the high diversity of Neisseria meningitidis, epidemiological surveillance incorporating detailed isolate characterisation is crucial for effective control and understanding the evolving epidemiology of IMD. The Meningitis Research Foundation Meningococcus Genome Library (MRF-MGL) exploits whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for this purpose and presents data on a comprehensive and coherent IMD isolate collection from England and Wales via the internet. We assessed the contribution of these data to investigating IMD epidemiology. Methods WGS data were obtained for all 899 IMD isolates available for England and Wales in epidemiological years 2010–11 and 2011–12. The data had been annotated at 1720 loci, analysed, and disseminated online. Information was also available on meningococcal population structure and vaccine (Bexsero, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, Middlesex, UK) antigen variants, which enabled the investigation of IMD-associated genotypes over time and by patients' age groups. Population genomic analyses were done with a hierarchical gene-by-gene approach. Findings The methods used by MRF-MGL efficiently characterised IMD isolates and information was provided in plain language. At least 20 meningococcal lineages were identified, three of which (hyperinvasive clonal complexes 41/44 [lineage 3], 269 [lineage 2], and 23 [lineage 23]) were responsible for 528 (59%) of IMD isolates. Lineages were highly diverse and showed evidence of extensive recombination. Specific lineages were associated with IMD in particular age groups, with notable diversity in the youngest and oldest individuals. The increased incidence of IMD from 1984 to 2010 in England and Wales was due to successive and concurrent epidemics of different lineages. Genetically, 74% of isolates were characterised as encoding group B capsules: 16% group Y, 6% group W, and 3% group C. Exact peptide matches for individual Bexsero vaccine antigens were present in up to 26% of isolates. Interpretation The MRF-MGL represents an effective, broadly applicable model for the storage, analysis, and dissemination of WGS data that can facilitate real-time genomic pathogen surveillance. The data revealed information crucial to effective deployment and assessment of vaccines against N meningitidis. Funding Meningitis Research Foundation, Wellcome Trust, Public Health England, European Union.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jay Lucidarme
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK
| | - Stephen J Gray
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK
| | - Lynne S Newbold
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK
| | - Roisin Ure
- Scottish Haemophilus, Legionella, Meningococcus and Pneumococcus Reference Laboratory, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK
| | | | | | - James E Bray
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | | | - Christoph M Tang
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ray Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Lucidarme J, Hill DMC, Bratcher HB, Gray SJ, du Plessis M, Tsang RSW, Vazquez JA, Taha MK, Ceyhan M, Efron AM, Gorla MC, Findlow J, Jolley KA, Maiden MCJ, Borrow R. Genomic resolution of an aggressive, widespread, diverse and expanding meningococcal serogroup B, C and W lineage. J Infect 2015; 71:544-52. [PMID: 26226598 PMCID: PMC4635312 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2015.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Revised: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/17/2015] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Neisseria meningitidis is a leading cause of meningitis and septicaemia. The hyperinvasive ST-11 clonal complex (cc11) caused serogroup C (MenC) outbreaks in the US military in the 1960s and UK universities in the 1990s, a global Hajj-associated serogroup W (MenW) outbreak in 2000-2001, and subsequent MenW epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa. More recently, endemic MenW disease has expanded in South Africa, South America and the UK, and MenC cases have been reported among European and North American men who have sex with men (MSM). Routine typing schemes poorly resolve cc11 so we established the population structure at genomic resolution. METHODS Representatives of these episodes and other geo-temporally diverse cc11 meningococci (n = 750) were compared across 1546 core genes and visualised on phylogenetic networks. RESULTS MenW isolates were confined to a distal portion of one of two main lineages with MenB and MenC isolates interspersed elsewhere. An expanding South American/UK MenW strain was distinct from the 'Hajj outbreak' strain and a closely related endemic South African strain. Recent MenC isolates from MSM in France and the UK were closely related but distinct. CONCLUSIONS High resolution 'genomic' multilocus sequence typing is necessary to resolve and monitor the spread of diverse cc11 lineages globally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jay Lucidarme
- Vaccine Evaluation Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership, Second Floor, Clinical Sciences Building II, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WZ, UK.
| | | | | | - Steve J Gray
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership, Second Floor, Clinical Sciences Building II, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WZ, UK.
| | - Mignon du Plessis
- Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, 1 Modderfontein Road, Sandringham, Johannesburg, 2131, South Africa.
| | - Raymond S W Tsang
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, 1015 Arlington Street, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada.
| | - Julio A Vazquez
- Reference Laboratory for Meningococci, Institute of Health Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain.
| | - Muhamed-Kheir Taha
- Institut Pasteur, Unité des Infections Bactériennes invasives, Département Infection et Epidémiologie, Paris, France.
| | - Mehmet Ceyhan
- Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Adriana M Efron
- Servicio Bacteriología Clínica, Departamento de Bacteriología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas-ANLIS «Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán», Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Maria C Gorla
- Division of Medical Biology, Bacteriology Department, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo 01246-902, Brazil.
| | - Jamie Findlow
- Vaccine Evaluation Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership, Second Floor, Clinical Sciences Building II, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WZ, UK.
| | - Keith A Jolley
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | | | - Ray Borrow
- Vaccine Evaluation Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership, Second Floor, Clinical Sciences Building II, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WZ, UK; Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership, Second Floor, Clinical Sciences Building II, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WZ, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Deasy AM, Guccione E, Dale AP, Andrews N, Evans CM, Bennett JS, Bratcher HB, Maiden MCJ, Gorringe AR, Read RC. Nasal Inoculation of the Commensal Neisseria lactamica Inhibits Carriage of Neisseria meningitidis by Young Adults: A Controlled Human Infection Study. Clin Infect Dis 2015; 60:1512-20. [DOI: 10.1093/cid/civ098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
18
|
Bratcher HB, Corton C, Jolley KA, Parkhill J, Maiden MCJ. A gene-by-gene population genomics platform: de novo assembly, annotation and genealogical analysis of 108 representative Neisseria meningitidis genomes. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:1138. [PMID: 25523208 PMCID: PMC4377854 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-1138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Highly parallel, 'second generation' sequencing technologies have rapidly expanded the number of bacterial whole genome sequences available for study, permitting the emergence of the discipline of population genomics. Most of these data are publically available as unassembled short-read sequence files that require extensive processing before they can be used for analysis. The provision of data in a uniform format, which can be easily assessed for quality, linked to provenance and phenotype and used for analysis, is therefore necessary. RESULTS The performance of de novo short-read assembly followed by automatic annotation using the pubMLST.org Neisseria database was assessed and evaluated for 108 diverse, representative, and well-characterised Neisseria meningitidis isolates. High-quality sequences were obtained for >99% of known meningococcal genes among the de novo assembled genomes and four resequenced genomes and less than 1% of reassembled genes had sequence discrepancies or misassembled sequences. A core genome of 1600 loci, present in at least 95% of the population, was determined using the Genome Comparator tool. Genealogical relationships compatible with, but at a higher resolution than, those identified by multilocus sequence typing were obtained with core genome comparisons and ribosomal protein gene analysis which revealed a genomic structure for a number of previously described phenotypes. This unified system for cataloguing Neisseria genetic variation in the genome was implemented and used for multiple analyses and the data are publically available in the PubMLST Neisseria database. CONCLUSIONS The de novo assembly, combined with automated gene-by-gene annotation, generates high quality draft genomes in which the majority of protein-encoding genes are present with high accuracy. The approach catalogues diversity efficiently, permits analyses of a single genome or multiple genome comparisons, and is a practical approach to interpreting WGS data for large bacterial population samples. The method generates novel insights into the biology of the meningococcus and improves our understanding of the whole population structure, not just disease causing lineages.
Collapse
|
19
|
Abstract
Epidemic disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis, the meningococcus, has been recognized for two centuries, but remains incompletely controlled and understood. There have been dramatic reductions in serogroup A and C meningococcal disease following the introduction of protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccines, but there is currently no comprehensive vaccine against serogroup B meningococci. Genetic analyses of meningococcal populations have provided many insights into the biology, evolution and pathogenesis of this important pathogen. The meningococcus, and its close relative the gonococcus, are the only pathogenic members of the genus Neisseria, and the invasive propensity of meningococci varies widely, with approximately a dozen 'hyperinvasive lineages' responsible for most disease. Despite this, attempts to identify a 'pathogenome', a subset of genes associated with the invasive phenotypes, have failed; however, genome-wide studies of representative meningococcal isolates using high-throughput sequencing are beginning to provide details on the relationship of invasive phenotype and genotype in this fascinating organism and how this relationship has evolved.
Collapse
|
20
|
Harrison OB, Claus H, Jiang Y, Bennett JS, Bratcher HB, Jolley KA, Corton C, Care R, Poolman JT, Zollinger WD, Frasch CE, Stephens DS, Feavers I, Frosch M, Parkhill J, Vogel U, Quail MA, Bentley SD, Maiden MCJ. Description and nomenclature of Neisseria meningitidis capsule locus. Emerg Infect Dis 2013; 19:566-73. [PMID: 23628376 PMCID: PMC3647402 DOI: 10.3201/eid1904.111799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 213] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic Neisseria meningitidis isolates contain a polysaccharide capsule that is the main virulence determinant for this bacterium. Thirteen capsular polysaccharides have been described, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy has enabled determination of the structure of capsular polysaccharides responsible for serogroup specificity. Molecular mechanisms involved in N. meningitidis capsule biosynthesis have also been identified, and genes involved in this process and in cell surface translocation are clustered at a single chromosomal locus termed cps. The use of multiple names for some of the genes involved in capsule synthesis, combined with the need for rapid diagnosis of serogroups commonly associated with invasive meningococcal disease, prompted a requirement for a consistent approach to the nomenclature of capsule genes. In this report, a comprehensive description of all N. meningitidis serogroups is provided, along with a proposed nomenclature, which was presented at the 2012 XVIIIth International Pathogenic Neisseria Conference.
Collapse
|
21
|
Jolley KA, Bliss CM, Bennett JS, Bratcher HB, Brehony C, Colles FM, Wimalarathna H, Harrison OB, Sheppard SK, Cody AJ, Maiden MCJ. Ribosomal multilocus sequence typing: universal characterization of bacteria from domain to strain. Microbiology (Reading) 2012; 158:1005-1015. [PMID: 22282518 PMCID: PMC3492749 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.055459-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 376] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
No single genealogical reconstruction or typing method currently encompasses all levels of bacterial diversity, from domain to strain. We propose ribosomal multilocus sequence typing (rMLST), an approach which indexes variation of the 53 genes encoding the bacterial ribosome protein subunits (rps genes), as a means of integrating microbial genealogy and typing. As with multilocus sequence typing (MLST), rMLST employs curated reference sequences to identify gene variants efficiently and rapidly. The rps loci are ideal targets for a universal characterization scheme as they are: (i) present in all bacteria; (ii) distributed around the chromosome; and (iii) encode proteins which are under stabilizing selection for functional conservation. Collectively, the rps loci exhibit variation that resolves bacteria into groups at all taxonomic and most typing levels, providing significantly more resolution than 16S small subunit rRNA gene phylogenies. A web-accessible expandable database, comprising whole-genome data from more than 1900 bacterial isolates, including 28 draft genomes assembled de novo from the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) sequence read archive, has been assembled. The rps gene variation catalogued in this database permits rapid and computationally non-intensive identification of the phylogenetic position of any bacterial sequence at the domain, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species and strain levels. The groupings generated with rMLST data are consistent with current nomenclature schemes and independent of the clustering algorithm used. This approach is applicable to the other domains of life, potentially providing a rational and universal approach to the classification of life that is based on one of its fundamental features, the translation mechanism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Carly M Bliss
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Alison J Cody
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|