Whole-genome sequencing of Neisseria meningitidis collected in Chile from pediatric patients during 2016-2019 and coverage vaccine prediction.

BACKGROUND

Over the past few years, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has become a valuable tool for global meningococcal surveillance. The objective of this study was to genetically characterize Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated from children in Chile through WGS and predicting potential vaccine coverage using gMATS and MenDeVAR.

METHODS

WGS of 42 N.meningitidis from pediatric patients were processed and assembled using different software. We analyzed genomes with BIGSdb platform hosted at PubMLST.org, and predicted vaccine coverage using MenDeVAR and gMATS tools.

RESULTS

Among 42 strains, 25 were MenB, 16 MenW, and 1 MenC. The cc11 and cc 41/44 were the most frequents. The main frequent deduced peptide sequence for PorA was P1.5,2 (40 %), peptide P1.4 was present in one MenB strain; NHBA-29 (64 %), none having peptide 2; fHbp-2 (76 %), one strain had peptide-1, and two had peptide 45; NadA was detected in 52 %, peptide-6 was present in 84 %, none had peptide 8. The MenDeVAR index predicted a coverage in MenB strains for 4CMenB 8 % exact matches, 12 % cross-reactivity, 8 % not coverage and 64 % had insufficient data. gMATS predicted 16 % was covered, 8 % not covered and 76 % unpredictable, and overall coverage of 54 %. For rLP2086-fHbp, the MenDeVAR index predicted exact match in 8 %, cross-reactivity in 64 %, and insufficient data in 28 % and an overall coverage of 72 %. In non-MenB strains, the MenDeVAR index predicted for 4CMenB vaccine: cross-reactivity 88 %, 6 % for not covered and insufficient data. For rLP2086-fHbp, predicted cross-reactivity 12 % and insufficient data in 88 %. gMATS predicted an overall coverage of 50 % for Non-MenB.

CONCLUSION

genetic variability of the Chilean strains that its different from other countries, and until now limit the coverage prediction of vaccine with the available tools like gMATS and MenDeVAR.