Evolutionary and genomic insights into meningococcal biology

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery
10:03

Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery

Published on: November 5, 2019

Holly B Bratcher1, Julia S Bennett, Martin C J Maiden

  • 1Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.

Future Microbiology
|July 26, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis remains a threat, especially serogroup B, as current vaccines are not comprehensive. Genetic studies are revealing how meningococcal genotypes relate to invasive disease and evolution.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Neisseria meningitidis causes epidemic meningitis, a disease recognized for centuries but not fully controlled.
  • While vaccines have reduced serogroups A and C, a comprehensive vaccine against serogroup B is lacking.
  • Genetic analyses offer insights into meningococcal biology, evolution, and pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the relationship between meningococcal genotype and invasive disease phenotype.
  • To understand the evolutionary dynamics of invasive meningococcal disease.

Main Methods:

  • Genome-wide studies utilizing high-throughput sequencing.
  • Analysis of representative meningococcal isolates.

Main Results:

  • Genetic analyses have illuminated aspects of meningococcal biology and evolution.
  • Genome-wide studies are beginning to detail the genotype-phenotype relationship in invasive meningococcal disease.

Conclusions:

  • Despite challenges in identifying a specific 'pathogenome', genomic approaches are crucial for understanding meningococcal disease.
  • Further research into the genetic basis of invasiveness is needed for improved control strategies.

More Related Videos

Humanized Mouse Model to Study Bacterial Infections Targeting the Microvasculature11:40

Humanized Mouse Model to Study Bacterial Infections Targeting the Microvasculature

Published on: April 1, 2014

A Choroid Plexus Epithelial Cell-based Model of the Human Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier to Study Bacterial Infection from the Basolateral Side09:58

A Choroid Plexus Epithelial Cell-based Model of the Human Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier to Study Bacterial Infection from the Basolateral Side

Published on: May 6, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...
Modern Molecular Taxonomy01:29

Modern Molecular Taxonomy

Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...
Evolution of Microbial Genome01:08

Evolution of Microbial Genome

Microbial genome evolution is a highly dynamic process shaped by continual gene gain and loss across species and strains. This genomic flexibility allows microorganisms to adapt rapidly to environmental pressures and interactions with other organisms. Central to understanding this diversity is the distinction between the core and pan genomes.The core genome comprises the genes shared by all sampled strains of a species, representing essential functions needed for fundamental cellular processes.
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes01:24

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...
Evolutionary Processes in Microbes01:26

Evolutionary Processes in Microbes

Microbial evolution occurs rapidly due to short generation times and a variety of genetic processes, including horizontal gene transfer, mutation, recombination, and genetic drift. These mechanisms collectively enable microbes to adapt swiftly to changing environments.Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) allows genes to move between different species and occurs through three main mechanisms: conjugation, transformation, and transduction. Conjugation involves direct cell-to-cell contact for DNA...