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Meningitis in adolescents: the role of commensal microbiota

James W B Moir1

  • 1Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.

Trends in Microbiology
|March 31, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Neisseria meningitidis causes illness in adolescents, often due to interactions with other upper respiratory microbes. A key factor is a metabolic exchange involving propionic acid.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Neisseria meningitidis is a significant pathogen affecting infants and adolescents.
  • Adolescent populations are particularly vulnerable to meningococcal disease.
  • The role of the upper respiratory tract microbiota in meningococcal pathogenesis is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the factors contributing to Neisseria meningitidis disease in adolescents.
  • To explore the potential role of microbial interactions in the upper respiratory tract.
  • To identify specific metabolic mechanisms underlying host-pathogen-microbiota interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of upper respiratory tract microbiota composition.
  • Metabolomic profiling of microbial communities.
  • In vitro co-culture experiments to study metabolic exchange.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests Neisseria meningitidis disease in adolescents is linked to interactions with other microbiota members.
  • A specific metabolic interaction involving propionic acid exchange was identified.
  • This metabolic exchange appears to influence the pathogenesis of meningococcal disease.

Conclusions:

  • Interactions within the upper respiratory tract microbiota play a crucial role in adolescent Neisseria meningitidis infections.
  • Metabolic exchanges, such as propionic acid transfer, are key mechanisms driving disease.
  • Targeting these microbial interactions could offer novel therapeutic strategies.
Keywords:
Neisseria meningitidisanaerobespropionic acidsymbiosis

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