The importance of microbiology reference laboratories and adequate funding for infectious disease surveillance.

Microbiology reference laboratories perform a crucial role within public health systems. This role was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Viewpoint, we emphasise the importance of microbiology reference laboratories and highlight the types of digital data and expertise they provide, which benefit national and international public health.

Retrospective analysis of health and economic burden among commercially-insured individuals diagnosed with invasive meningococcal disease in the United States.

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a life-threatening yet vaccine-preventable disease, with vaccines approved and recommended in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This study assessed complications, mortality, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and healthcare costs among a sample of commercially-insured individuals living in the United States who experienced IMD. We used retrospective data from large claims databases limited to individuals with IMD covered by commercial health plans between January 2010-March 2022.

Immunity Dynamics of Serogroups ACYW from Birth and Following Vaccination.

: Serosurveillance of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis (ECM) in healthy individuals is crucial for assessing disease risk and evaluating the effectiveness of vaccinations. However, this practical work is rare in China. : We conducted cross-section serosurveillance in Guangzhou, Zhanjiang, and Heyuan in Guangdong Province, measuring Anti-Nm IgG with serogroups A, C, Y, and W, and analyzed the trends using a generalized additive model (GAM).

4CMenB Breadth of Immune Response, Immunogenicity, and Safety: Results From a Phase 3 Randomized, Controlled, Observer Blind Study in Adolescents and Young Adults.

Background: Meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) strains are highly diverse. Breadth of immune response for the MenB vaccine, 4CMenB, administered at 0-2, 0-6, or 0-2-6 months, was demonstrated by endogenous complement-human serum bactericidal antibody (enc-hSBA) assay against an epidemiologically relevant panel of 110 MenB strains.

Methods: In a phase 3 trial, 3651 healthy 10- to 25-year-old participants were randomized 5:5:9:1 to receive 4CMenB (0-6 schedule), 4CMenB (0-2-6 schedule), investigational MenABCWY vaccine, or control MenACWY-CRM vaccine.

Vaccinations for Hajj: Enhancing health and global health security.

The Hajj pilgrimage, one of the world's largest and most diverse mass gatherings, poses unique challenges for preventing infectious disease outbreaks. Vaccinations are vital in reducing the risk and spread of diseases during this event. This narrative review examines the impact of vaccination programs on infectious disease mitigation during the Hajj and their broader implications for global health security (GHS).

Assessing the Impact of TLR4 rs4986790 Polymorphism on Bacterial Meningitis Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Objectives: Toll-like receptor ( TLR2 ) gene plays an important role in the pathogenesis of bacterial meningitis (such as meningococcal meningitis and pneumococcal meningitis). The association between TLR4 rs4986790 polymorphism and the susceptibility to bacterial meningitis has been extensively studied. However, the results of these studies remain inconsistent.

Infections in sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the commonest severe inherited disorders in the world. Infection accounts for a significant amount of the morbidity and mortality, particularly in sub- Saharan Africa, but is relatively poorly studied and characterized. Patients with SCD have significant immunodeficiency and are more likely to suffer severe and life-threatening complications of infection, and additionally infections can trigger complications of SCD itself.

Safety and immunogenicity of a pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine versus a quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine in adults in India: an observer-blind, randomised, active-controlled, phase 2/3 study.

Background: Meningococcal disease remains an important public health problem globally. We assessed the non-inferiority and the lot-to-lot consistency of a pentavalent meningococcal ACYWX conjugate vaccine (NmCV-5; Serum Institute of India, Pune, India) versus a quadrivalent meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccine (MenACWY-D) in healthy adults.

Methods: In this observer-blind, randomised, active-controlled, phase 2/3 study, healthy adults aged 18-85 years were recruited from nine hospitals across seven cities in India.

A case of a rash after tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis and meningococcal vaccination.

We present a case of a 12-year-old healthy girl who presented with acute onset of dry, hyperpigmented, and raised pruritic rash. The lesions initially presented on her thighs then progressed to the trunk and arms hours after receiving the tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap) and meningococcal vaccine. After a poor response to medium potency topical steroids, a biopsy specimen was taken, which led to our diagnosis.

Global Epidemiology of Meningococcal Disease-Causing Serogroups Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review.

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is associated with high morbidity and mortality and predominantly caused by five Neisseria meningitidis serogroups (A/B/C/W/Y). Polysaccharide conjugate vaccines induce T-cell-dependent immune responses, are immunogenic in infants and adults, and reduce carriage, and vaccination of age groups associated with high-carriage can provide indirect protection in the unvaccinated (herd immunity). Successful vaccination programs must be tailored to local epidemiology, which varies geographically, temporally, and by age and serogroup.

Quadrivalent Conjugate Vaccine and Invasive Meningococcal Disease in US Adolescents and Young Adults.

Importance: Beginning in 2005, the US implemented routine immunization of adolescents with a quadrivalent conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) for the prevention of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD).

Objectives: To assess whether MenACWY immunization was associated with a reduced IMD burden among the US adolescent population and how the downward trajectory of IMD that began in the mid-1990s might have evolved in the absence of vaccination efforts.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this decision analytical study, a bayesian hierarchical Poisson regression model was developed to investigate the potential trajectory of IMD among US adolescents and young adults without vaccination and evaluate the direct association of vaccination with IMD burden.

Spread of the meningococci group C isolates of the clonal complex 10217 beyond the African meningitis belt.

Objectives: To monitor the spread of invasive meningococcal disease due to group C of the clonal complex 10217 isolates beyond the sub-Saharan African meningitis belt.

Methods: Cases were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction in blood or cerebrospinal fluid samples and further characterized by multi-locus sequence typing that defined sequence type and clonal complexes. Sequencing of gene (encoding the penicillin-binding protein 2) was also used to predict susceptibility to β-lactams.

Global Meningococcal Initiative: Insights on antibiotic resistance, control strategies and advocacy efforts in Western Europe.

In Western Europe, many countries have robust and well-established surveillance systems and case reporting mechanisms. IMD incidence across Western Europe is low with a predominance of meningococcal serogroup B (MenB). Case confirmation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing is often standardised in this region, with many countries also having robust vaccination programmes in place.

Regulation of the Promoter for Capsular Polysaccharide Synthesis in Serogroup B by HTH_XRE Family Transcription Factor.

Unlabelled: The capsular polysaccharide synthesis ( ) locus of is implicated in invasive meningococcal disease. The synthesis ( ) and transport ( ) operons are transcribed in opposite directions from a common intergenic region and expression is negatively regulated by the bacterial two-component system and thermosensitive RNA folding. However, these mechanisms do not fully explain the stationary phase responses and the cis-acting elements remain to be fully characterized.

Life After Invasive Meningococcal Disease: Insights from Survivors and Their Caregivers.

Introduction: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) has a low incidence but is a life-threatening illness that is preventable via vaccination. Even with treatment, up to 10-15% of cases are fatal, and many survivors may experience severe long-term sequelae. Building upon the acute-phase findings presented in the Part 1 manuscript for this study, we describe the long-term physical, social, psychological, and economic burden of IMD on US survivors and their caregivers in this Part 2 manuscript.

Initial Experiences with Invasive Meningococcal Disease: Insights from Survivors and Their Caregivers.

Introduction: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) has a low incidence but is a life-threatening illness with a 10-15% mortality rate. Even with timely treatment, survivors may experience acute and long-term health complications. While meningococcal vaccines are recommended for adolescents and young adults in the USA, vaccination coverage remains uneven across serotypes.

An evaluation of ravulizumab for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Introduction: Following the CHAMPION-NMOSD trial, the FDA recently granted approval for ravulizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against complement C5 protein in AQP-4 seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Similar to eculizumab, ravulizumab offers near-complete prevention of NMOSD relapses, but has a longer half-life, providing decreased infusion frequency and increased convenience for patients. While targeting the complement pathway has clear advantages, patients are at risk for infection with encapsulated organisms, in particular .