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Neisseria meningitidis: using genomics to understand diversity, evolution and pathogenesis

Dominique A Caugant1,2, Ola B Brynildsrud3,4

  • 1Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. dominique.caugant@fhi.no.

Nature Reviews. Microbiology
|November 10, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) advances understanding of Neisseria meningitidis, the bacterium causing meningococcal disease. WGS aids in tracking bacterial diversity and evolution for improved public health strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Meningococcal disease causes significant global morbidity and mortality.
  • Neisseria meningitidis exhibits extensive diversity and antigenic variability, hindering disease elimination.
  • High rates of horizontal gene transfer and phase variation contribute to bacterial adaptability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in understanding Neisseria meningitidis biology and meningococcal disease epidemiology using whole-genome sequencing (WGS).
  • To highlight the impact of WGS on characterizing bacterial diversity, evolution, and virulence.
  • To discuss the role of WGS in epidemiological surveillance and vaccine impact assessment.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data from large collections of Neisseria meningitidis isolates.
  • Employing bioinformatics tools for data analysis, storage, and sharing.
  • Reviewing recent scientific literature on WGS applications in meningococcal research.

Main Results:

  • WGS has significantly enhanced understanding of N. meningitidis diversity, evolution, and population structure.
  • Identification of mechanisms for virulent trait emergence through genomic analysis.
  • Demonstration of WGS utility in improving epidemiological surveillance and assessing vaccine impact.

Conclusions:

  • Whole-genome sequencing is a powerful tool for dissecting the complexity of Neisseria meningitidis.
  • WGS provides critical insights for developing and evaluating public health interventions against meningococcal disease.
  • Continued implementation of WGS is essential for controlling and potentially eliminating meningococcal disease globally.

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