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Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup Y Sequence Type 1466 and Urogenital Infections
Abstract:
Neisseria meningitidis is a common commensal bacterium of the nasopharynx that can cause invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). In comparison, N. gonorrhoeae is always a pathogen usually limited to mucosal sites. However, increased evidence for overlapping clinical syndromes is emerging. We compared N. meningitidis samples from a urogenital outbreak in Australia with sequences from the United States and other countries. We conducted phylogenetic analyses to assess relatedness and examine for genomic changes associated with meningococcal adaptation; we collated a total of 255 serogroup Y (MenY), sequence type (ST) 1466 isolate assemblies. Most urogenital isolates originated from Australia; those isolates formed a distinct clade, most closely related genomically to recent US IMD isolates. No specific genomic changes suggested niche adaptation or associated clinical manifestations. The MenY ST1466 N. meningitidis isolates circulating in Australia and the United States are capable of causing both urethritis and invasive meningococcal disease.
Insights
Neisseria meningitidis, typically harmless, can cause invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) and urethritis. This study found Australian and US strains of serogroup Y, sequence type 1466, are capable of causing both infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genomics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Neisseria meningitidis is a nasopharyngeal commensal that can cause invasive meningococcal disease (IMD).
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae is typically a mucosal pathogen.
- Overlapping clinical syndromes between these species are increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare N. meningitidis isolates from a urogenital outbreak in Australia with international strains.
- To assess the genomic relatedness and identify potential adaptations in meningococcal isolates causing urogenital infections.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetic analysis of 255 serogroup Y (MenY), sequence type (ST) 1466 N. meningitidis isolates.
- Genomic comparison of Australian urogenital isolates with US and other international IMD isolates.
Main Results:
- Australian urogenital N. meningitidis isolates formed a distinct clade, closely related to recent US IMD isolates.
- No specific genomic changes were identified that indicated niche adaptation for urogenital sites.
- The MenY ST1466 N. meningitidis isolates demonstrated the capacity to cause both urethritis and invasive disease.
Conclusions:
- N. meningitidis strains, specifically MenY ST1466, circulating in Australia and the US possess the capability to cause both urogenital infections (urethritis) and invasive meningococcal disease.
- Genomic analysis did not reveal specific adaptations linked to the urogenital niche in these isolates.
