Article
Immunology
Susan Meiring, Stefano Tempia, Emanuel M. Dominic, Linda de Gouveia, Jo McAnerney, Anne von Gottberg, Cheryl Cohen
Summary: This study reveals a lag time between seasonal influenza and invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), with a potential link between the two. Influenza co-circulation may contribute to some IMD cases, and vaccination against influenza could have a preventive effect on both influenza and IMD.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Alicia R. Feagins, Adodo Yao Sadji, Nadav Topaz, Mark Itsko, Jacqueline Wemboo Afiwa Halatoko, Alessou Dzoka, Joseph Labite, Yao Kata, Sylvain Gomez, Komlan Kossi, Hamadi Assane, Christelle Nikiema-Pessinaba, Ryan Novak, Henju Marjuki, Xin Wang
Summary: The recent outbreak of invasive NmC strain in Togo highlights the changing epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in the meningitis belt post-MACV. The study emphasizes the need for effective molecular surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, and a multivalent vaccine that is effective against all circulating serogroups.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Willem R. Miellet, Gerlinde Pluister, Meike Sikking, Marcia Tappel, Jurgen Karczewski, Linda J. Visser, Thijs Bosch, Krzysztof Trzcinski, Rob Mariman
Summary: We used molecular methods to assess the impact of menACWY vaccine implementation on meningococcal carriage and genogroup-specific prevalence in young adults in the Netherlands. The overall carriage rate of genogroupable meningococci was not significantly different compared to a pre-menACWY cohort. Of the carriers, almost all were positive for vaccine types or non-targeted genogroups. While there was a reduction in vaccine-type carriage rates, there was an increase in non-vaccine type menE prevalence, suggesting the implementation of the menACWY vaccine affected carriage.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Susan Meiring, Cheryl Cohen, Linda de Gouveia, Mignon du Plessis, Vanessa Quan, Jackie Kleynhans, Colin Menezes, Gary Reubenson, Halima Dawood, Maphoshane Nchabeleng, Mohamed Said, Nomonde Mvelase, Prasha Mahabeer, Rispah Chomba, Ruth Lekalakala, Trusha Nana, Vindana Chibabhai, Marianne Black, Anne von Gottberg
Summary: Providing country-specific estimates of case fatality and sequelae from bacterial meningitis (BM) is important to evaluate and monitor progress toward the World Health Organization's roadmap to defeating meningitis by 2030. The study conducted enhanced surveillance at 26 hospitals in South Africa from 2016-2020, revealing that BM in South Africa has a high case fatality, and adverse sequelae frequently occur among survivors. Those with comorbidities, including HIV, are at the highest risk.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Susan Meiring, Cheryl Cohen, Linda de Gouveia, Mignon du Plessis, Karistha Ganesh, Jackie Kleynhans, Vanessa Quan, Stefano Tempia, Anne von Gottberg
Summary: The study showed that the carriage prevalence of meningococcal among first-year university students in South Africa increased after 2 months, with non-groupable meningococci, genogroups Y, B, W, and C being the predominant types. Sociobehavioral risk factors, such as attending nightclubs and having intimate kissing partners, were associated with increased carriage acquisition. HIV was also found to be associated with carriage acquisition, suggesting that students with HIV could benefit most from meningococcal vaccination.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Kathryn A. Matthias, Kristie L. Connolly, Afrin A. Begum, Ann E. Jerse, Andrew N. Macintyre, Gregory D. Sempowski, Margaret C. Bash
Summary: Recent studies have found that Neisseria meningitidis vaccines lacking specific proteins can provide protection against Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections in mice, and the antibodies produced can cross-react with N. gonorrhoeae. This finding supports the development of a cross-protective vaccine against Neisseria infections.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Brenda Anna Kwambana-Adams, Adam L. Cohen, Lee Hampton, Aquino Albino Nhantumbo, Robert S. Heyderman, Martin Antonio, Andre Bita, Jason Mathiu Mwenda
Summary: African countries need to strengthen their weak meningitis surveillance systems and implement comprehensive and sustainable monitoring systems, with greater synergies and coordination between different surveillance systems. These systems should be more closely linked with other surveillance systems and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance systems to achieve more effective disease control.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Altacilio Aparecido Nunes, Ariane De Jesus Lopes De Abreu, Otavio Cintra, Monica A. C. T. Cintra, Eduardo Barbosa Coelho, Eliana Nogueira Castro De Barros
Summary: Introduction of MenC vaccination in Brazil led to significant reductions in both the incidence and mortality rates of meningococcal disease, especially among children under 5 years of age, largely driven by the decrease in the MenC serogroup. Despite these considerable benefits, the prevalence of MD due to other serogroups such as MenW and MenB remains a concern.
Article
Immunology
Joseph E. Marcus, William N. Bennett, Dianne N. Frankel, John W. Kieffer, Theresa M. Casey, Amanda E. Huston, Courtney N. Hintz, Alexander P. Keller, Michael T. Smolka, Cynthia S. Sikorski, Heather C. Yun, Matthew J. Dolan, John L. Kiley
Summary: This article describes the public health response to a military trainee who contracted serogroup B meningococcal disease while sharing underwater breathing equipment. With rapid isolation and postexposure prophylaxis administration, no secondary cases occurred.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Lene Fogt Lundbo, Zitta Barrella Harboe, Hakon Sandholdt, Lars Smith-Hansen, Palle Valentiner-Branth, Steen Hoffmann, Thomas Benfield
Summary: A Danish case-control study found that certain comorbidities increased the risk of invasive meningococcal disease ranging from 2- to 40-fold. These comorbidities included renal disease, immunological disorders, liver disease, cancer, and solid organ transplantation. Vaccination and appropriate medical care may be necessary for these populations with increased risk.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Gabriela M. Wassing, Nathalie Ilehag, Jonas Frey, Ann-Beth Jonsson
Summary: Antimicrobial peptides play a crucial role in defending against pathogens, and the co-culture of pathogenic bacteria and commensal microbes can impact AMP expression, with the NF-kappa B inhibitor A20 potentially being a key factor in dampening AMP expression by Neisseria meningitidis.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Chung Pham Van, The Trong Nguyen, Sy Tien Bui, Trong Van Nguyen, Huyen Thi Thanh Tran, Dong Trac Pham, Long Phi Trieu, Manh Dang Nguyen
Summary: This study described the prevalence, clinical features, and treatment outcomes of IMD among young soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army, and identified ceftriaxone resistance in Neisseria meningitidis. New recruits were found to be at higher risk of IMD, with prognostic factors for severity including petechial rash, septicemia, and meningococcemia.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nichlas Hovmand, Lene Fogt Lundbo, Gitte Kronborg, Sidsel Skou Voss, Hakon Sandholdt, Steen Hoffmann, Palle Valentiner-Branth, Thomas Ben
Summary: In Denmark, the incidence of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W has increased, with higher mortality compared to other serogroups. Age and manifestation are associated with increased risk of infection and death.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Arianna Neri, Massimo Fabiani, Anna Maria Barbui, Caterina Vocale, Alessandro Miglietta, Cecilia Fazio, Anna Carannante, Annapina Palmieri, Paola Vacca, Paola Stefanelli, Luigina Ambrosio
Summary: This study evaluated the presence of neutralizing antibodies over time in different cohorts of children vaccinated against serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis. The results showed a significant decline in antibody titers every year, particularly in children vaccinated with the MCC vaccine.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ala-Eddine Deghmane, Muhamed-Kheir Taha
Summary: Bexsero (R) is a multicomponent vaccine that provides protection against invasive meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B isolates. It has good immunogenicity and requires booster doses in infants and young children. It may also be effective against non-B isolates.
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mihaly Koltai, Jocelyn Moyes, Bryan Nyawanda, Joyce Nyiro, Patrick K. Munywoki, Stefano Tempia, Xiao Li, Marina Antillon, Joke Bilcke, Stefan Flasche, Philippe Beutels, D. James Nokes, Cheryl Cohen, Mark Jit
Summary: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes a significant burden of acute lower respiratory infection in children under 5 years, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Maternal vaccine (MV) and next-generation monoclonal antibody (mAb) candidates have shown effectiveness in reducing RSV disease. Original hospital-based data from South Africa and Kenya suggest that interventions against RSV disease may be more cost-effective than previously estimated.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jocelyn Moyes, Stefano Tempia, Sibongile Walaza, Meredith L. McMorrow, Florette Treurnicht, Nicole Wolter, Anne von Gottberg, Kathleen Kahn, Adam L. Cohen, Halima Dawood, Ebrahim Variava, Cheryl Cohen
Summary: Based on a study in South African children, the burden of RSV-associated illness was estimated, with newborns and infants being the most affected group. Implementing maternal vaccination and monoclonal antibody products for this group can help reduce the disease burden.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jocelyn Moyes, Stefano Tempia, Sibongile Walaza, Meredith L. McMorrow, Florette Treurnicht, Nicole Wolter, Anne von Gottberg, Kathleen Kahn, Adam L. Cohen, Halima Dawood, Ebrahim Variava, Cheryl Cohen
Summary: Studying the economic burden of RSV-associated illness can help inform decisions on the implementation of maternal vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. A costing study conducted in South Africa estimated the cost of RSV-associated illness in infants and found that the highest cost burden was in the youngest infants.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Waasila Jassat, Caroline Mudara, Caroline Vika, Richard Welch, Tracy Arendse, Murray Dryden, Lucille Blumberg, Natalie Mayet, Stefano Tempia, Arifa Parker, Jeremy Nel, Rubeshan Perumal, Michelle J. Groome, Francesca Conradie, Norbert Ndjeka, Louise Sigfrid, Laura Merson, Cheryl Cohen
Summary: The study aimed to describe the prevalence of and risk factors for post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). A total of 46.7% of hospitalized and 18.5% of nonhospitalized participants experienced >= 1 symptoms at 6 months. Risk factors for PCC included older age, female sex, non-Black race, presence of a comorbidity, greater number of acute COVID-19 symptoms, hospitalization/COVID-19 severity, and wave period.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Cheryl Cohen, Juliet Pulliam
Article
Infectious Diseases
Serisha D. Naicker, Liliwe Shuping, Thokozile G. Zulu, Ruth S. Mpembe, Mabatho Mhlanga, Ernest M. Tsotetsi, Tsidiso G. Maphanga, Nelesh P. Govender, GERMS SA
Summary: Nakaseomyces glabrata is a common cause of candidaemia in South Africa, particularly in older female patients admitted to public hospitals and post-surgery patients. Many of these patients are treated with suboptimal doses of fluconazole, and a small percentage of N. glabrata isolates show resistance to echinocandins and fluconazole. Echinocandins or polyenes are recommended for the treatment of confirmed N. glabrata candidaemia.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rebecca Grant, Jilian A. Sacks, Priya Abraham, Supamit Chunsuttiwat, Cheryl Cohen, J. Peter Figueroa, Thomas Fleming, Paul Fine, David Goldblatt, Hideki Hasegawa, C. Raina MacIntrye, Ziad A. Memish, Elizabeth Miller, Sergio Nishioka, Amadou A. Sall, Samba Sow, Oyewale Tomori, Youchun Wang, Maria D. Van Kerkhove, Marie-Ange Wambo, Homa Attar Cohen, Samuel Mesfin, James R. Otieno, Lorenzo Subissi, Sylvie Briand, David E. Wentworth, Kanta Subbarao
Summary: Vaccines for different SARS-CoV-2 variants have been authorized, but continuous monitoring is necessary to decide when vaccine antigen composition should be revised, along with clinical studies to assess vaccine effectiveness.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Deus Thindwa, Samuel Clifford, Jackie Kleynhans, Anne von Gottberg, Sibongile Walaza, Susan Meiring, Todd D. Swarthout, Elizabeth Miller, Peter McIntyre, Nick Andrews, Zahin Amin-Chowdhury, Norman Fry, Kondwani C. Jambo, Neil French, Samanta Cristine Grassi Almeida, Shamez N. Ladhani, Robert S. Heyderman, Cheryl Cohen, Maria Cristina de Cunto Brandileone, Stefan Flasche
Summary: The risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) increases with age for older adults, but the population benefiting from pneumococcal vaccines and the immunogenic response to vaccination decline. This study examined the impact of demographics, vaccine efficacy, and waning efficacy on the optimal age for pneumococcal vaccination. The findings suggest that administering pneumococcal vaccines earlier in adulthood in low/middle-income countries could prevent a significant proportion of residual IPD burden.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Maria Martin-Vicente, Hloni Mthiyane, Maria A. Jimenez-Sousa, Kathleen Subramoney, Orienka Hellferscee, Nicole Wolter, Sibongile Walaza, Amanda Fernandez-Rodriguez, Cheryl Cohen, Anne von Gottberg, Salvador Resino, Isidoro Martinez, Florette K. Treurnicht
Summary: The TNIP1 gene polymorphisms are associated with the susceptibility to symptomatic HRSV infection and bronchiolitis in infants, particularly the rs73272842 G allele and rs999011 C allele.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jocelyn Moyes, Stefano Tempia, Sibongile Walaza, Meredith L. McMorrow, Adam L. Cohen, Florette Treurnicht, Orienka Hellferscee, Nicole Wolter, Anne Von Gottberg, Halima Dawood, Ebrahim Variava, Kathleen Kahn, Shabir A. Madhi, Cheryl Cohen
Summary: This study aimed to calculate the attributable fraction (AF) of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in clinical syndromes across different age groups. Using logistic regression models, the AF of RSV-associated influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) cases were estimated by comparing RSV detection prevalence among cases and healthy controls in South Africa from 2012-2016. The results showed significant associations between RSV and ILI and SARI cases, particularly in younger age groups.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nicole Wolter, Stefano Tempia, Anne von Gottberg, Jinal N. Bhiman, Sibongile Walaza, Jackie Kleynhans, Jocelyn Moyes, Sue Aitken, Sarah Magni, Jessica Yun, Tamika Fellows, Tetelo Makamadi, Renay Weiner, Cherie Cawood, Neil Martinson, Limakatso Lebina, Cheryl Cohen
Summary: This study investigated healthcare utilization in the catchment areas of healthcare facilities in three provinces during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings showed that less than half of ILI cases and only 71% of SRI cases received medical care during the first two waves of COVID-19 in South Africa. This suggests that facility-based surveillance data may underestimate the burden of COVID-19.
Article
Biology
Jackie Kleynhans, Lorenzo Dall'Amico, Laetitia Gauvin, Michele Tizzoni, Lucia Maloma, Sibongile Walaza, Neil A. Martinson, Anne von Gottberg, Nicole Wolter, Mvuyo Makhasi, Cheryl Cohen, Ciro Cattuto, Stefano Tempia
Summary: This study deployed proximity sensors in South African households and found no association between close-range contact events and SARS-CoV-2 transmission. The findings may be attributed to study limitations or the high contact rates within households.
