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Persistence of hyperinvasive meningococcal strain types during global spread as recorded in the PubMLST database

Eleanor R Watkins1, Martin C J Maiden

  • 1Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Plos One
|October 3, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B strains show persistent genetic associations, posing challenges for vaccine development. Understanding these patterns is crucial for creating effective meningococcal vaccines.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Neisseria meningitidis causes global septicaemia and meningitis.
  • Serogroup B strains are prevalent in Europe, Americas, and Australasia, yet lack a polysaccharide vaccine.
  • Outer membrane proteins like PorA and FetA are potential vaccine candidates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate temporal and geographical patterns of associations between Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane protein variants (PorA, FetA) and clonal complexes.
  • To identify persistent strain types and understand their global proliferation.
  • To assess the implications for designing broad-coverage protein-based meningococcal vaccines.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the PubMLST database containing genotypic information from 3460 isolates.
  • Analyzed data from 57 countries spanning a 74-year period.
  • Examined associations among PorA and FetA protein variants and housekeeping gene-defined lineages (clonal complexes).

Main Results:

  • Identified shifting associations between antigen variants and clonal complexes.
  • Observed a subset of persistent strain types associated with multiple serogroups, proliferating globally over decades.
  • Found long-lived genetic associations among serogroup B and C meningococci, similar to previously described stability in serogroup A.
  • Noted geographic and temporal heterogeneity in antigenic repertoires.

Conclusions:

  • Long-lived genetic associations among Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane proteins, particularly in serogroups B and C, persist globally.
  • These patterns suggest immune selection and inter-strain competition drive variation.
  • The antigenic heterogeneity presents both opportunities and challenges for developing effective, broad-coverage protein-based meningococcal vaccines.

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