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Meningococcal Two-Partner Secretion Systems and Their Association with Outcome in Patients with Meningitis

Jurgen R Piet1, Peter van Ulsen2, Sadeeq Ur Rahman2

  • 1Department of Neurology, Center of Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center (AMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center (AMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Infection and Immunity
|June 22, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Two-partner secretion (TPS) systems in meningococci influence disease severity. Strains with TPS system 2 or 3 were linked to less severe meningitis and better patient outcomes, suggesting a role in immune evasion.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Two-partner secretion (TPS) systems are crucial for exporting large proteins in bacteria.
  • In Neisseria meningitidis, three TPS systems exist, with TPS system 2 (TPS2) and TPS system 3 (TPS3) being immunogenic.
  • Understanding TPS system distribution is vital for assessing meningococcal pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of different TPS systems in clinical isolates of meningococcal meningitis.
  • To determine the association between TPS system distribution and disease severity and patient outcomes.
  • To explore the impact of TPS systems on host immune response.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of TPS system distribution in 373 clinical isolates from meningitis patients.
  • Correlation of TPS system presence with patient outcomes and clonal complexes.
  • Whole-blood stimulation experiments to assess host cytokine response.

Main Results:

  • TPS system 1 was found in 91% of isolates; TPS2 and/or TPS3 were present in 67%.
  • TPS system distribution varied significantly across different clonal complexes.
  • Infection with strains possessing TPS2 and/or TPS3 correlated with reduced disease severity and improved outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Meningococcal TPS systems, particularly TPS2 and TPS3, are associated with clinical outcomes in meningitis.
  • The presence of TPS2 and/or TPS3 may indicate a less virulent or more immune-evasive phenotype.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms underlying the observed association.

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