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Pathogenicity variation of CC4821 Neisseria meningitidis in China from 2005 to 2024

Xueping Liu1, Hairui Wang1, Bohan Chen1

  • 1National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.

Infection, Genetics and Evolution : Journal of Molecular Epidemiology and Evolutionary Genetics in Infectious Diseases
|March 12, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Neisseria meningitidis clonal complex 4821 (CC4821) shows evolving pathogenicity. Serogroup B strains exhibit increased adhesion and invasion, while both serogroups B and C show enhanced apoptosis induction, necessitating ongoing surveillance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens

Background:

  • Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis) causes invasive meningococcal disease (IMD).
  • Clonal complex 4821 (CC4821) is the dominant N. meningitidis lineage in China.
  • Pathogenicity differences between CC4821 serogroup B and C strains are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the distribution and pathogenicity of CC4821 N. meningitidis isolates.
  • To compare CC4821 serogroup B and C strains regarding adhesion, invasion, inflammatory response, and apoptosis induction.
  • To analyze trends in pathogenicity based on isolation source, serogroup, and time (2005-2024).

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of CC4821 N. meningitidis isolates (2005-2024) based on source, serogroup, and isolation time.
  • In vitro assessment of bacterial adhesion and invasion capabilities.
  • Measurement of inflammatory cytokine (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) release.
  • Assay of apoptosis induction in A549 cells.

Main Results:

  • Recent CC4821 serogroup B isolates show increased prevalence, adhesion, and invasion.
  • CC4821 serogroup C isolates have decreased in number with reduced adhesion and invasion capabilities.
  • Both serogroups induce significant inflammatory cytokine release (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α).
  • Recent invasive isolates (B and C) and carriage isolates show increased apoptosis induction compared to earlier strains.

Conclusions:

  • CC4821 serogroup B strains demonstrate enhanced respiratory tract colonization and transmission potential.
  • CC4821 serogroup C strains, despite weakened adhesion, remain a potential risk.
  • Continuous surveillance of both serogroups, especially asymptomatic carriers, is crucial for managing IMD risks.
Keywords:
Adhesion and invasionApoptosisCC4821Neisseria meningitidisPathogenicityProinflammatory

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