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Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage
Published on: February 15, 2013
16.4K
Lessons from meningococcal carriage studies.
Dominique A Caugant1, Georgina Tzanakaki, Paula Kriz
1Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Division of Infectious Disease Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. dominique.caugant@fhi.no
FEMS Microbiology Reviews
|January 20, 2007
Summary
Neisseria meningitidis carriage is common in young adults, with diverse strains found in carriers compared to disease-causing ones. Understanding carriage is key for managing meningococcal disease and vaccination strategies.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Neisseria meningitidis is a human commensal, typically colonizing the upper respiratory tract without causing illness (carriage).
- Up to 35% of young adults in Europe can be carriers at any given time.
- Genetic diversity exists among meningococcal strains from carriers, contrasting with a few hypervirulent strains linked to invasive disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic diversity and pathogenicity of Neisseria meningitidis clones.
- To understand the epidemiology of meningococcal carriage in Europe.
- To inform strategies for disease prevention and vaccination.
Main Methods:
- Utilized molecular methods for clone identification.
- Analyzed multilocus sequence types (MLST) of isolates from asymptomatic carriers.
- Leveraged data from the EU-MenNet framework.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in pathogenicity were observed between meningococcal clones.
- MLST distribution varied among asymptomatic carriers across European countries.
- Simultaneous carriage of multiple meningococcal strains is rare but occurs.
- Commensal associations can be long-term, lasting months.
Conclusions:
- Further research into the carrier state is crucial for understanding meningococcal epidemiology and pathogenesis.
- Findings support the development and evaluation of mass vaccination strategies against meningococcal disease.
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