A5039827143- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Reproductive tract infections research
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis and Management
- Syphilis Diagnosis and Treatment
- Microbial infections and disease research
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Gut microbiota and health
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia detection and treatment
- Neonatal and Maternal Infections
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Cervical Cancer and HPV Research
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Machine Learning in Bioinformatics
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
University of Oxford
2016-2025
Medawar Building for Pathogen Research
2008-2021
Shanghai Municipal Center For Disease Control Prevention
2021
Huashan Hospital
2021
Fudan University
2021
Intravacc (Netherlands)
2019
University of London
2013
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
2013
Abu Dhabi Health Services
2012
St Mary's Hospital
2001
Impairment of the protein C anticoagulation pathway is critical to thrombosis associated with sepsis and development purpura fulminans in meningococcemia. We studied expression thrombomodulin endothelial receptor dermal microvasculature children severe meningococcemia purpuric or petechial lesions.
No single genealogical reconstruction or typing method currently encompasses all levels of bacterial diversity, from domain to strain. We propose ribosomal multilocus sequence (rMLST), an approach which indexes variation the 53 genes encoding ribosome protein subunits (rps genes), as a means integrating microbial genealogy and typing. As with (MLST), rMLST employs curated reference sequences identify gene variants efficiently rapidly. The rps loci are ideal targets for universal...
Pathogenic Neisseria meningitidis isolates contain a polysaccharide capsule that is the main virulence determinant for this bacterium. Thirteen capsular polysaccharides have been described, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy has enabled determination of structure responsible serogroup specificity. Molecular mechanisms involved in N. biosynthesis also identified, genes process cell surface translocation are clustered at single chromosomal locus termed cps. The use multiple names some...
A serogroup meningococcal polysaccharide-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (PsA-TT, MenAfriVac) was licensed in India 2009, and pre-qualified by WHO 2010, on the basis of its safety immunogenicity. This is now being deployed across African meningitis belt. We studied effect PsA-TT carriage Chad during a epidemic.
Many host-adapted bacterial pathogens contain DNA methyltransferases (mod genes) that are subject to phase-variable expression (high-frequency reversible ON/OFF switching of gene expression). In Haemophilus influenzae, the random modA controls a regulon genes (a “phasevarion”), via differential methylation genome in ON and OFF states. Phase-variable mod also present Neisseria meningitidis gonorrhoeae, suggesting phasevarions may occur these important human pathogens. Phylogenetic studies on...
Serogroup W and Y invasive meningococcal disease increased globally from 2000 onwards. Responding to a rapid increase in serogroup clonal complex 11 (W:cc11) disease, the UK replaced an adolescent booster dose of C conjugate vaccine with quadrivalent MenACWY 2015. By 2018, coverage eligible school cohorts aged 14 19 years was 84%. We assessed impact vaccination programme on carriage.An observational study culture-defined oropharyngeal carriage prevalence before after start students, 15...
ABSTRACT The increase in the capacity and reduction cost of whole-genome sequencing methods present imminent prospect such data being used routinely real time for investigations bacterial disease outbreaks. For this to be realized, however, it is necessary that generic, portable, robust analysis frameworks available, which can readily interpreted by microbiologists, clinicians, public health epidemiologists. We have achieved with a set tools integrated into PubMLST.org website, principle any...
Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a worldwide health issue that potentially preventable with vaccination. In view of its sporadic nature and the high diversity Neisseria meningitidis, epidemiological surveillance incorporating detailed isolate characterisation crucial for effective control understanding evolving epidemiology IMD. The Meningitis Research Foundation Meningococcus Genome Library (MRF-MGL) exploits whole-genome sequencing (WGS) this purpose presents data on comprehensive...
GBS is a leading cause of mortality in newborn babies high- and low-income countries worldwide. Different strains are characterized by different degrees virulence, where some harmlessly carried humans or animals others much more likely to disease. The genome sequences almost 2,000 samples isolated from both low- income were analyzed using pan-genome-wide association study approach. This allowed us identify 279 genes which associated with lineages GBS, virulence preferred host. Additionally,...
Abstract Background Gonorrhea, caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is a globally prevalent sexually transmitted infection. The dynamics of gonococcal population biology have been poorly defined due to lack resolution in strain typing methods. Methods In this study, we assess how core genome can be used improve our understanding structure compared with current schemes. Results A total 1668 loci were identified as genome. These organized into multilocus sequence scheme (N...
ABSTRACT The comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences is widely used to differentiate bacteria; however, this can lack resolution among closely related but distinct members the same genus. This a problem in clinical situations those genera, such as Neisseria , where some species are associated with disease while others not. Here, we identified and validated an alternative genetic target common all which be readily sequenced provide assay that rapidly accurately discriminates Ribosomal...
Africa has the highest incidence of gonorrhea in world. However, little is known about gonococcal populations this continent or mechanisms antimicrobial resistance (AMR).Whole-genome sequence data were analyzed from 103 Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates 73 patients, mainly men who have sex with men, coastal Kenya. We annotated loci, defined core genome, AMR, and performed phylogenetic analysis. For patients multiple episodes gonorrhea, we determined whether infections occurred related...
Abstract Background Antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a global health concern. Strains from two internationally circulating sequence types, ST-7363 and ST-1901, have acquired to third-generation cephalosporins, mainly due mosaic penA alleles. These STs were first detected Japan; however, the timeline, mechanism, process of emergence spread these alleles other countries remain unknown. Methods We studied evolution by obtaining complete genomes three Japanese ST-1901...
Mosaic
Neisseria meningitidis can utilize haem, haemoglobin and haemoglobin-haptoglobin complexes as sources of iron via two TonB-dependent phase variable receptors, HmbR HpuAB. is over-represented in disease isolates, suggesting a link between acquisition meningococcal disease. This study compared the distribution HpuAB variation (PV) status both receptors carriage isolates. Meningococcal (n = 214) 305) isolates representative multiple clonal (CCs) were investigated for distribution, polyG tract...
Bacteriocins are toxins produced by bacteria to kill competitors of the same species. Theory and laboratory experiments suggest that bacteriocin production immunity play a key role in competitive dynamics bacterial strains. The extent which this is case natural populations,especially human pathogens, remains be tested. We examined bacteriocins competition using Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains infecting lungs humans with cystic fibrosis (CF). assessed ability different each other phenotypic...
Of the ten human-restricted Neisseria species two, meningitidis, and gonorrhoeae, cause invasive disease: other eight are carried asymptomatically in pharynx, possibly modulating meningococcal gonococcal infections. Consequently, characterizing their diversity is important for understanding microbiome health disease. Whole genome sequences from 181 isolates were examined, including those of three well-defined (N. meningitidis; N. gonorrhoeae; polysaccharea) genomes unassigned to any (Nspp)....
The incidence of invasive meningococcal disease in the UK decreased by approximately four times from 1999 to 2014, with reductions serogroup C and B disease. Lower was attributable implementation conjugate vaccine 1999, through direct indirect protection, but no implemented against Meningococcal Carriage surveys 1-3 (UKMenCar1-3), conducted 2000, 2001, were essential for understanding impact vaccination. To investigate decline incidence, we did a large oropharyngeal carriage survey 2014-15,...
Development of a vaccine against gonorrhoea is global priority, driven by the rise in antibiotic resistance. Although Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) infection does not induce substantial protective immunity, highly exposed individuals may develop immunity re-infection with same strain. Retrospective epidemiological studies have shown that vaccines containing meningitidis (Nm) outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) provide degree cross-protection Ng infection. We conducted clinical trial (NCT04297436)...
Abstract Neisseria meningitidis is a human-specific bacterium that varies in invasive potential. All meningococci are carried the nasopharynx, and most genotypes very infrequently associated with meningococcal disease; however, those belonging to ‘hyperinvasive lineages’ more frequently sepsis or meningitis. Genome content highly conserved between carriage disease isolates, differential gene expression has been proposed as major determinant of hyperinvasive phenotype. Three phase variable...