Carriage rates and risk factors during an outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease due to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C ST-11 (cc11) in Tuscany, Italy: a cross-sectional study.
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.
Interconnected clusters of invasive meningococcal disease due to <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> serogroup C ST-11 (cc11), involving bisexuals and men who have sex with men, with discos and gay-venues hotspots of transmission, Tuscany, Italy, 2015 to 2016.
The resurgence of invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W with sequence type ST-11 (cc11) was observed in Madagascar in 2015-2016.
Bivalent rLP2086 (Trumenba®; MenB-FHbp), composed of two factor H binding proteins (FHbps), is a vaccine approved in the United States for prevention of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MnB) invasive meningococcal disease (IMD).
To investigate the association of mannose binding lectin (MBL) with IMD, a frequency analysis of the haplotypes of the MBL2 gene and quantitative measurement of MBL serum protein levels were performed using Nanogen NanoChipR 400 technology and immuno-enzyme techniques, respectively.
The consistency of the results between the genome-wide association study and our study population strengthens the association of CFH polymorphisms to the susceptibility of IMD.
The data from our study and all other available evidence indicate that MBL2 structural polymorphisms do not predispose children or adults to invasive meningococcal disease.
Our data suggest that the heterozygous TLR4Asp299Gly genotype is associated with an increased mortality in children with invasive meningococcal disease.
In a pediatric cohort (ages 2-215 months) with invasive meningococcal disease, we investigated the overall and age-stratified frequency of 3 MBL exon 1 variations (C154T, G161A, G170A), previously shown to result in markedly decreased MBL plasma concentrations, by allele specific fluorescent hybridization probe real-time PCR assays and direct sequencing.
A cohort of 448 isolates from patients with invasive meningococcal disease in the Netherlands were screened for the ability to induce IL-6 in monocytic cell Mono Mac 6 cells.
This outcome provides a clear demonstration of the therapeutic benefit of the use of C5aR1-specific inhibitors to improve the outcome of invasive meningococcal disease.
Corticosteroids may regulate this inflammatory response through an early but transient induction of IL-10 that is suggested to improve the outcome of IMD.