Genomic characterization of invasive Neisseria meningitidis in Spain (2011/12–2022/23): expansion of clonal complex 213 and the potential threat to 4CMenB vaccine strain coverage

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is associated with significant global morbidity and mortality and is addressed by conjugated polysaccharide and subcapsular vaccines. In Spain, data on 4CMenB vaccine strain coverage and antimicrobial susceptibility are limited. This study aimed to describe the g...

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Main Authors: Josep Roca-Grande, Alba Mir-Cros, Carmen Muñoz-Almagro, Mayli Lung, Alba Bellés-Bellés, Jordi Càmara, Emilia Cercenado, M. Ángeles Galán-Ladero, Andrea Martín-Nalda, Albert Moreno-Mingorance, Daniel Navarro de la Cruz, M. Ángeles Orellana, Begoña Palop, Amaresh Pérez-Argüello, Guillem Puigsech-Boixeda, M. Dolores Quesada, Alba Rivera, Ana Rodriguez-Fernandez, Enrique Ruiz de Gopegui, Carolina Sarvisé, Aleix Soler-Garcia, Belén Viñado, Nieves Larrosa, Juan José González-López
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Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Emerging Microbes and Infections
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2025.2482696
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author Josep Roca-Grande
Alba Mir-Cros
Carmen Muñoz-Almagro
Mayli Lung
Alba Bellés-Bellés
Jordi Càmara
Emilia Cercenado
M. Ángeles Galán-Ladero
Andrea Martín-Nalda
Albert Moreno-Mingorance
Daniel Navarro de la Cruz
M. Ángeles Orellana
Begoña Palop
Amaresh Pérez-Argüello
Guillem Puigsech-Boixeda
M. Dolores Quesada
Alba Rivera
Ana Rodriguez-Fernandez
Enrique Ruiz de Gopegui
Carolina Sarvisé
Aleix Soler-Garcia
Belén Viñado
Nieves Larrosa
Juan José González-López
author_facet Josep Roca-Grande
Alba Mir-Cros
Carmen Muñoz-Almagro
Mayli Lung
Alba Bellés-Bellés
Jordi Càmara
Emilia Cercenado
M. Ángeles Galán-Ladero
Andrea Martín-Nalda
Albert Moreno-Mingorance
Daniel Navarro de la Cruz
M. Ángeles Orellana
Begoña Palop
Amaresh Pérez-Argüello
Guillem Puigsech-Boixeda
M. Dolores Quesada
Alba Rivera
Ana Rodriguez-Fernandez
Enrique Ruiz de Gopegui
Carolina Sarvisé
Aleix Soler-Garcia
Belén Viñado
Nieves Larrosa
Juan José González-López
author_sort Josep Roca-Grande
collection DOAJ
description Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is associated with significant global morbidity and mortality and is addressed by conjugated polysaccharide and subcapsular vaccines. In Spain, data on 4CMenB vaccine strain coverage and antimicrobial susceptibility are limited. This study aimed to describe the genomic epidemiology, predict 4CMenB vaccine strain coverage, and assess antimicrobial susceptibility of 323 Neisseria meningitidis isolates causing IMD, collected from 57 Clinical Microbiology Laboratories in Spain over 12 years (2011/12–2022/23). Whole genome sequencing was performed to identify serogroup, clonal complex (cc), and antimicrobial resistance determinants. Vaccine strain coverage for serogroup B (MenB) isolates was predicted using the genetic Meningococcal Antigen Typing System approach. The most prevalent serogroups were B (57.9%), W (21.4%), C (10.4%), and Y (8.4%). MenB predominated throughout most seasons, except during the 2019/20 season when serogroup W peaked. Post-COVID-19 pandemic, MenB remained the most frequent (70.2%). Thirteen cc were identified among MenB isolates, with cc213 being the most prevalent (40.1%). Only 28.9% of MenB isolates were predicted to be covered by 4CMenB, with cc213 showing an exceptionally low coverage rate (5.3%) due to antigenic variants poorly targeted by the vaccine. Notably, cc213 was responsible for twice the proportion of MenB cases in 4CMenB-vaccinated versus unvaccinated. All isolates were susceptible to third generation cephalosporins, and 13.5% showed penicillin resistance. This study highlights the alarming prevalence of cc213 among MenB IMD cases in Spain and the limited 4CMenB coverage against this cc. The disproportionate representation of cc213 in vaccinated individuals underscores its potential to compromise vaccine effectiveness.
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spelling doaj-art-4ff3aba1fd234d00a980ec97099bd0772025-08-20T03:42:03ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEmerging Microbes and Infections2222-17512025-12-0114110.1080/22221751.2025.2482696Genomic characterization of invasive Neisseria meningitidis in Spain (2011/12–2022/23): expansion of clonal complex 213 and the potential threat to 4CMenB vaccine strain coverageJosep Roca-Grande0Alba Mir-Cros1Carmen Muñoz-Almagro2Mayli Lung3Alba Bellés-Bellés4Jordi Càmara5Emilia Cercenado6M. Ángeles Galán-Ladero7Andrea Martín-Nalda8Albert Moreno-Mingorance9Daniel Navarro de la Cruz10M. Ángeles Orellana11Begoña Palop12Amaresh Pérez-Argüello13Guillem Puigsech-Boixeda14M. Dolores Quesada15Alba Rivera16Ana Rodriguez-Fernandez17Enrique Ruiz de Gopegui18Carolina Sarvisé19Aleix Soler-Garcia20Belén Viñado21Nieves Larrosa22Juan José González-López23Microbiology Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, SpainMicrobiology Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, SpainInfectious Diseases and Microbiome Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRB-Lleida), Lleida, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, IDIBELL-UB, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, SpainCIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, SpainPediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Children’s Hospital, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron Campus, Barcelona, SpainMicrobiology Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Málaga, SpainInfectious Diseases and Microbiome Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues, SpainMicrobiology Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, UAB, Badalona, SpainDepartment of Genetics and Microbiology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla-IDIVAL, Santander, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Illes Balears (IdISBa), Palma de Mallorca, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Universitari de Tarragona Joan XXIII, Pere Virgili Health Research Institute (IISPV), Tarragona, SpainInfectious Diseases and Microbiome Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, SpainMicrobiology Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, SpainMicrobiology Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, SpainInvasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is associated with significant global morbidity and mortality and is addressed by conjugated polysaccharide and subcapsular vaccines. In Spain, data on 4CMenB vaccine strain coverage and antimicrobial susceptibility are limited. This study aimed to describe the genomic epidemiology, predict 4CMenB vaccine strain coverage, and assess antimicrobial susceptibility of 323 Neisseria meningitidis isolates causing IMD, collected from 57 Clinical Microbiology Laboratories in Spain over 12 years (2011/12–2022/23). Whole genome sequencing was performed to identify serogroup, clonal complex (cc), and antimicrobial resistance determinants. Vaccine strain coverage for serogroup B (MenB) isolates was predicted using the genetic Meningococcal Antigen Typing System approach. The most prevalent serogroups were B (57.9%), W (21.4%), C (10.4%), and Y (8.4%). MenB predominated throughout most seasons, except during the 2019/20 season when serogroup W peaked. Post-COVID-19 pandemic, MenB remained the most frequent (70.2%). Thirteen cc were identified among MenB isolates, with cc213 being the most prevalent (40.1%). Only 28.9% of MenB isolates were predicted to be covered by 4CMenB, with cc213 showing an exceptionally low coverage rate (5.3%) due to antigenic variants poorly targeted by the vaccine. Notably, cc213 was responsible for twice the proportion of MenB cases in 4CMenB-vaccinated versus unvaccinated. All isolates were susceptible to third generation cephalosporins, and 13.5% showed penicillin resistance. This study highlights the alarming prevalence of cc213 among MenB IMD cases in Spain and the limited 4CMenB coverage against this cc. The disproportionate representation of cc213 in vaccinated individuals underscores its potential to compromise vaccine effectiveness.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2025.2482696Neisseria meningitidiswhole genome sequencinggenomic epidemiologycc213gMATS4CMenB vaccine strain coverage
spellingShingle Josep Roca-Grande
Alba Mir-Cros
Carmen Muñoz-Almagro
Mayli Lung
Alba Bellés-Bellés
Jordi Càmara
Emilia Cercenado
M. Ángeles Galán-Ladero
Andrea Martín-Nalda
Albert Moreno-Mingorance
Daniel Navarro de la Cruz
M. Ángeles Orellana
Begoña Palop
Amaresh Pérez-Argüello
Guillem Puigsech-Boixeda
M. Dolores Quesada
Alba Rivera
Ana Rodriguez-Fernandez
Enrique Ruiz de Gopegui
Carolina Sarvisé
Aleix Soler-Garcia
Belén Viñado
Nieves Larrosa
Juan José González-López
Genomic characterization of invasive Neisseria meningitidis in Spain (2011/12–2022/23): expansion of clonal complex 213 and the potential threat to 4CMenB vaccine strain coverage
Emerging Microbes and Infections
Neisseria meningitidis
whole genome sequencing
genomic epidemiology
cc213
gMATS
4CMenB vaccine strain coverage
title Genomic characterization of invasive Neisseria meningitidis in Spain (2011/12–2022/23): expansion of clonal complex 213 and the potential threat to 4CMenB vaccine strain coverage
title_full Genomic characterization of invasive Neisseria meningitidis in Spain (2011/12–2022/23): expansion of clonal complex 213 and the potential threat to 4CMenB vaccine strain coverage
title_fullStr Genomic characterization of invasive Neisseria meningitidis in Spain (2011/12–2022/23): expansion of clonal complex 213 and the potential threat to 4CMenB vaccine strain coverage
title_full_unstemmed Genomic characterization of invasive Neisseria meningitidis in Spain (2011/12–2022/23): expansion of clonal complex 213 and the potential threat to 4CMenB vaccine strain coverage
title_short Genomic characterization of invasive Neisseria meningitidis in Spain (2011/12–2022/23): expansion of clonal complex 213 and the potential threat to 4CMenB vaccine strain coverage
title_sort genomic characterization of invasive neisseria meningitidis in spain 2011 12 2022 23 expansion of clonal complex 213 and the potential threat to 4cmenb vaccine strain coverage
topic Neisseria meningitidis
whole genome sequencing
genomic epidemiology
cc213
gMATS
4CMenB vaccine strain coverage
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2025.2482696
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