BackgroundThe total incidence of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Europe has been declining in recent years; however, a rising incidence due to serogroup W (MenW), predominantly sequence type 11 (ST-11), clonal complex 11 (cc11), was reported in some European countries.AimThe aim of this study was to compile the most recent laboratory surveillance data on MenW IMD from several European countries to assess recent trends in Europe.MethodsIn this observational, retrospective study, IMD surveillance data collected from 2013-17 by national reference laboratories and surveillance units from 13 European countries were analysed using descriptive statistics.ResultsThe overall incidence of IMD has been stable during the study period. Incidence of MenW IMD per 100,000 population (2013: 0.03; 2014: 0.05; 2015: 0.08; 2016: 0.11; 2017: 0.11) and the proportion of this serogroup among all invasive cases (2013: 5% (116/2,216); 2014: 9% (161/1,761); 2015: 13% (271/2,074); 2016: 17% (388/2,222); 2017: 19% (393/2,112)) continuously increased. The most affected countries were England, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden. MenW was more frequent in older age groups (≥ 45 years), while the proportion in children (< 15 years) was lower than in other age groups. Of the culture-confirmed MenW IMD cases, 80% (615/767) were caused by hypervirulent cc11.ConclusionDuring the years 2013-17, an increase in MenW IMD, mainly caused by MenW cc11, was observed in the majority of European countries. Given the unpredictable nature of meningococcal spread and the epidemiological potential of cc11, European countries may consider preventive strategies adapted to their contexts.

• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• incidence MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• meningokokové infekce diagnóza   epidemiologie   MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• multilokusová sekvenční typizace MeSH
• Neisseria meningitidis klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• séroskupina MeSH
• surveillance populace metody   MeSH
• věkové rozložení MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• pozorovací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

The Global Meningococcal Initiative (GMI) aims to prevent invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) worldwide through education, research and cooperation. In March 2019, a GMI meeting was held with a multidisciplinary group of experts and representatives from countries within Eastern Europe. Across the countries represented, IMD surveillance is largely in place, with incidence declining in recent decades and now generally at <1 case per 100,000 persons per year. Predominating serogroups are B and C, followed by A, and cases attributable to serogroups W, X and Y are emerging. Available vaccines differ between countries, are generally not included in immunization programs and provided to high-risk groups only. Available vaccines include both conjugate and polysaccharide vaccines; however, current data and GMI recommendations advocate the use of conjugate vaccines, where possible, due to the ability to interrupt the acquisition of carriage. Ongoing carriage studies are expected to inform vaccine effectiveness and immunization schedules. Additionally, IMD prevention and control should be guided by monitoring outbreak progression and the emergence and international spread of strains and antibiotic resistance through use of genomic analyses and implementation of World Health Organization initiatives. Protection of high-risk groups (such as those with complement deficiencies, laboratory workers, migrants and refugees) is recommended.

• MeSH
• epidemický výskyt choroby * MeSH
• incidence MeSH
• kontrola infekčních nemocí organizace a řízení   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• meningokokové infekce epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• meningokokové vakcíny aplikace a dávkování   imunologie   MeSH
• Neisseria meningitidis klasifikace   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• přenašečství epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• přenos infekční nemoci prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• séroskupina MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• východní Evropa MeSH

Invasive meningococcal disease surveillance in Europe combines isolate characterisation and epidemiological data to support public health intervention. A representative European Meningococcal Strain Collection (EMSC) of IMD isolates was obtained, and whole genome sequenced to characterise 799 EMSC isolates from the epidemiological year July 2011-June 2012. To establish a genome library (GL), the isolate information was deposited in the pubMLST.org/neisseria database. Genomes were curated and annotated at 2,429 meningococcal loci, including those defining clonal complex, capsule, antigens, and antimicrobial resistance. Most genomes contained genes encoding B (n = 525; 65.7%) or C (n = 163; 20.4%) capsules; isolates were genetically highly diverse, with >20 genomic lineages, five of which comprising 60.7% (n = 485) of isolates. There were >350 antigenic fine-types: 307 were present once, the most frequent (P1.7-2,4:F5-1) comprised 8% (n = 64) of isolates. Each genome was characterised for Bexsero Antigen Sequence Typing (BAST): 25.5% (n = 204) of isolates contained alleles encoding the fHbp and/or the PorA VR1 vaccine component, but most genomes (n = 513; 64.2%) did not contain the NadA component. EMSC-GL will support an integrated surveillance of disease-associated genotypes in Europe, enabling the monitoring of hyperinvasive lineages, outbreak identification, and supporting vaccine programme implementation.

• MeSH
• bakteriální geny genetika   MeSH
• genetická variace MeSH
• genetické lokusy MeSH
• genom bakteriální MeSH
• genomika MeSH
• genomová knihovna * MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• meningokoková meningitida genetika   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• meningokokové infekce genetika   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• molekulární epidemiologie MeSH
• Neisseria meningitidis séroskupiny B genetika   MeSH
• Neisseria meningitidis klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• sekvenování celého genomu * MeSH
• séroskupina MeSH
• surveillance populace MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

Bivalent rLP2086 (Trumenba), a vaccine for prevention of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (NmB) disease, was licensed for use in adolescents and young adults after it was demonstrated that it elicits antibodies that initiate complement-mediated killing of invasive NmB isolates in a serum bactericidal assay with human complement (hSBA). The vaccine consists of two factor H binding proteins (fHBPs) representing divergent subfamilies to ensure broad coverage. Although it is the surrogate of efficacy, an hSBA is not suitable for testing large numbers of strains in local laboratories. Previously, an association between the in vitro fHBP surface expression level and the susceptibility of NmB isolates to killing was observed. Therefore, a flow cytometric meningococcal antigen surface expression (MEASURE) assay was developed and validated by using an antibody that binds to all fHBP variants from both fHBP subfamilies and accurately quantitates the level of fHBP expressed on the cell surface of NmB isolates with mean fluorescence intensity as the readout. Two collections of invasive NmB isolates (n = 1,814, n = 109) were evaluated in the assay, with the smaller set also tested in hSBAs using individual and pooled human serum samples from young adults vaccinated with bivalent rLP2086. From these data, an analysis based on fHBP variant prevalence in the larger 1,814-isolate set showed that >91% of all meningococcal serogroup B isolates expressed sufficient levels of fHBP to be susceptible to bactericidal killing by vaccine-induced antibodies.IMPORTANCE Bivalent rLP2086 (Trumenba) vaccine, composed of two factor H binding proteins (fHBPs), was recently licensed for the prevention of N. meningitidis serogroup B (NmB) disease in individuals 10 to 25 years old in the United States. This study evaluated a large collection of NmB isolates from the United States and Europe by using a flow cytometric MEASURE assay to quantitate the surface expression of the vaccine antigen fHBP. We find that expression levels and the proportion of strains above the level associated with susceptibility in an hSBA are generally consistent across these geographic regions. Thus, the assay can be used to predict which NmB isolates are susceptible to killing in the hSBA and therefore is able to demonstrate an fHBP vaccine-induced bactericidal response. This work significantly advances our understanding of the potential for bivalent rLP2086 to provide broad coverage against diverse invasive-disease-causing NmB isolates.

• MeSH
• antibakteriální látky farmakologie   MeSH
• antigeny bakteriální analýza   MeSH
• bakteriální proteiny analýza   MeSH
• baktericidní aktivita krve MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• meningokokové vakcíny imunologie   MeSH
• mikrobiální viabilita účinky léků   MeSH
• Neisseria meningitidis séroskupiny B chemie   účinky léků   izolace a purifikace   fyziologie   MeSH
• protilátky bakteriální farmakologie   MeSH
• průtoková cytometrie metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

New vaccines targeting meningococci expressing serogroup B polysaccharide have been developed, with some being licensed in Europe. Coverage depends on the distribution of disease-associated genotypes, which may vary by age. It is well established that a small number of hyperinvasive lineages account for most disease, and these lineages are associated with particular antigens, including vaccine candidates. A collection of 4,048 representative meningococcal disease isolates from 18 European countries, collected over a 3-year period, were characterized by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Age data were available for 3,147 isolates. The proportions of hyperinvasive lineages, identified as particular clonal complexes (ccs) by MLST, differed among age groups. Subjects <1 year of age experienced lower risk of sequence type 11 (ST-11) cc, ST-32 cc, and ST-269 cc disease and higher risk of disease due to unassigned STs, 1- to 4-year-olds experienced lower risk of ST-11 cc and ST-32 cc disease, 5- to 14-year-olds were less likely to experience ST-11 cc and ST-269 cc disease, and ≥25-year-olds were more likely to experience disease due to less common ccs and unassigned STs. Younger and older subjects were vulnerable to a more diverse set of genotypes, indicating the more clonal nature of genotypes affecting adolescents and young adults. Knowledge of temporal and spatial diversity and the dynamics of meningococcal populations is essential for disease control by vaccines, as coverage is lineage specific. The nonrandom age distribution of hyperinvasive lineages has consequences for the design and implementation of vaccines, as different variants, or perhaps targets, may be required for different age groups.

• MeSH
• antigeny bakteriální imunologie   MeSH
• bakteriální pouzdra imunologie   MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• meningokoková meningitida imunologie   mikrobiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• meningokokové vakcíny imunologie   MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• multilokusová sekvenční typizace MeSH
• Neisseria meningitidis séroskupiny B imunologie   MeSH
• Neisseria meningitidis imunologie   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• sekvence nukleotidů MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• věkové rozložení MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

BACKGROUND: Recombinant vaccines containing factor H-binding protein (fHBP) have been developed for the purpose of protection from invasive meningococcal serogroup B disease. Neisseria meningitidis fHBP sequences can be divided into 2 genetically and immunologically distinct subfamilies (A and B); thus, cross protection is conferred within but not between subfamilies. A comprehensive understanding of fHBP epidemiology is required to accurately assess the potential vaccine impact when considering different vaccination implementation strategies. METHODS: Systematically collected invasive meningococcal serogroup B isolates from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the United States, Norway, France and the Czech Republic were previously characterized for fHBP sequence. This study expanded the evaluation with additional meningococcal serogroup B disease isolates from Spain (n = 346) and Germany (n = 205). This expanded set (n = 1841), collected over a 6-year period (2001 to 2006), was evaluated for fHBP sequence and fHBP subfamily relative to patient age. RESULTS: All 1841 isolates contained fhbp. fHBP sequences from Spain and Germany fell within the previously described subfamilies, with 69% of isolates belonging to subfamily B and 31% to subfamily A; prevalent sequence variants were also similar. Stratification of data by age indicated that disease in infants <1 year of age was caused by a significantly higher proportion of isolates with fHBP subfamily A variants than that seen in adolescents and young adults 11-25 years (47.7% versus 19.5%, P < 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These observations highlight a difference in epidemiology of fHBP subfamilies in different age groups, with fHBP subfamily A strains causing more disease in vulnerable populations, such as infants, than in adolescents.

• MeSH
• antigeny bakteriální analýza   genetika   imunologie   MeSH
• bakteriální proteiny analýza   genetika   imunologie   MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• meningokokové infekce epidemiologie   imunologie   mikrobiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• meningokokové vakcíny aplikace a dávkování   imunologie   MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• Neisseria meningitidis chemie   imunologie   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• věkové faktory MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH
• Spojené státy americké MeSH

The distribution of serogroups and multilocus sequence types (STs) in collections of disease-associated and carried meningococci from the period 1991 to 2000 in three European countries (the Czech Republic, Greece, and Norway) was investigated. A total of 314 patient isolates and 353 isolates from asymptomatic carriers were characterized. The frequency distributions of serogroups and clone complexes differed among countries and between disease and carrier isolate collections. Highly significant differentiation was seen at each housekeeping locus. A marked positive association of serogroup C with disease was evidenced. The ST-11 complex was strongly positively associated with disease; associations for other clone complexes were weaker. The genetic diversity of the clone complexes differed. A single ST dominated the ST-11 clone complex, while the ST-41/44 complex exhibited greater levels of diversity. These data robustly demonstrated differences in the distribution of meningococcal genotypes in disease and carrier isolates and among countries. Further, they indicated that differences in genotype diversity and pathogenicity exist between meningococcal clone complexes.

• MeSH
• genetická variace MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• meningokokové infekce epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• Neisseria meningitidis klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   patogenita   MeSH
• přenašečství epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• sérotypizace MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Norsko MeSH
• Řecko MeSH

The distribution of serogroups and multilocus sequence types (STs) in collections of disease-associated and carried meningococci from the period 1991 to 2000 in three European countries (the Czech Republic, Greece, and Norway) was investigated. A total of 314 patient isolates and 353 isolates from asymptomatic carriers were characterized. The frequency distributions of serogroups and clone complexes differed among countries and between disease and carrier isolate collections. Highly significant differentiation was seen at each housekeeping locus. A marked positive association of serogroup C with disease was evidenced. The ST-11 complex was strongly positively associated with disease; associations for other clone complexes were weaker. The genetic diversity of the clone complexes differed. A single ST dominated the ST-11 clone complex, while the ST-41/44 complex exhibited greater levels of diversity. These data robustly demonstrated differences in the distribution of meningococcal genotypes in disease and carrier isolates and among countries. Further, they indicated that differences in genotype diversity and pathogenicity exist between meningococcal clone complexes.

• MeSH
• genetická variace MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• meningokokové infekce * epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• Neisseria meningitidis * genetika   izolace a purifikace   klasifikace   patogenita   MeSH
• přenašečství * epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• sérotypizace MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Norsko MeSH
• Řecko MeSH