Genome-wide association studies identify an association of transferrin binding protein B variation and invasive serogroup Y meningococcal disease in older adults.
Maynard-Smith L., Derrick JP., Borrow R., Lucidarme J., Maiden MCJ., Heyderman RS., Harrison OB.
BACKGROUND: Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y, especially ST-23 clonal complex (Y:cc23), represents a larger proportion of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in older adults compared to younger individuals. This study explored the meningococcal genetic variation underlying this association. METHODS: Maximum-likelihood phylogenies and the pangenome were analysed using whole genome sequence (WGS) data from 200 Y:cc23 isolates in the Neisseria PubMLST database. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed on WGS data from 250 Y:cc23 isolates from individuals with IMD aged ≥65 years versus