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Molecular epidemiology of Neisseria meningitidis
1Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of W rzburg, Germany. uvogel@hygiene.uni-wuerzburg.de
Abstract:
Neisseria meningitidis poses a major disease burden on human beings. Meningococcal typing has a longstanding tradition for epidemiological surveillance of the disease. Genetic and antigenetic variability resulting from horizontal genetic exchange has been exploited for this purpose. Neisseria meningitidis served as the bacterial prototype organism for the development of multi locus sequence typing, which has replaced multi locus enzyme electrophoresis as the gold standard for meningococcal typing. Due to the rapid emergence of new porin variants serotyping by monoclonal antibodies is currently being replaced by DNA sequencing of variable regions of the porA gene. Sequence data were used to characterize the population structure of meningococci in carriage and disease. The advances in molecular epidemiology of meningococcal disease, and the rapid exchange of DNA sequence data via curated internet websites have resulted in an interactive international network, which is capable of identifying newly emerging clones within weeks.
Insights
Molecular epidemiology advances, including multi locus sequence typing, enhance Neisseria meningitidis surveillance. DNA sequencing of the porA gene replaces serotyping, enabling rapid identification of emerging meningococcal clones.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Neisseria meningitidis causes significant human disease burden.
- Meningococcal typing is crucial for epidemiological surveillance.
- Genetic variability, driven by horizontal gene exchange, is exploited for typing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail advances in molecular epidemiology for Neisseria meningitidis.
- To highlight the shift from traditional typing methods to DNA sequencing.
- To describe the establishment of an international network for rapid clone identification.
Main Methods:
- Development and application of multi locus sequence typing (MLST) for Neisseria meningitidis.
- DNA sequencing of variable regions of the porA gene to overcome limitations of serotyping.
- Utilizing sequence data to characterize meningococcal population structure in carriage and disease.
Main Results:
- Multi locus sequence typing has become the gold standard for meningococcal typing, replacing multi locus enzyme electrophoresis.
- DNA sequencing of the porA gene is replacing serotyping due to rapid emergence of new porin variants.
- Sequence data analysis has characterized meningococcal population structure.
- An interactive international network facilitates rapid identification of emerging clones.
Conclusions:
- Advances in molecular epidemiology and data sharing have revolutionized Neisseria meningitidis surveillance.
- The established network enables swift detection of newly emerging meningococcal clones.
- This approach enhances the ability to monitor and control meningococcal disease outbreaks.