Dominique Andree Yvette Caugant

• Golparian, Daniel; Cole, Michelle J; Sánchez-Busó, Leonor; Day, Michaela; Jacobsson, Susanne & Uthayakumaran, Thinushaa [Show all 18 contributors for this article] (2024). Antimicrobial-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Europe in 2020 compared with in 2013 and 2018: a retrospective genomic surveillance study. Lancet Microbe. ISSN 2666-5247. doi: 10.1016/S2666-5247(23)00370-1.
• Garcia Llorente, Ignacio; Lee, Yunsung; Brynildsrud, Ola Brønstad; Eldholm, Vegard; Magnus, Per Minor & Blomfeldt, Anita [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2023). Tracing the adaptive evolution of SARS-CoV-2 during vaccine roll-out in Norway. Virus Evolution. ISSN 2057-1577. 10(1). doi: 10.1093/ve/vead081.
• Al-Abri, Seif S.; Abuhasan, Musallam Yunus; Albayat, Soha Shawqi A.; Bai, Xilian; Bastaki, Hamad & Borrow, Ray [Show all 23 contributors for this article] (2023). Meningococcal disease in the Middle East: A report from the Global Meningococcal Initiative. Journal of Infection. ISSN 0163-4453. 88(2), p. 71–76. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2023.10.011.
• Watle, Sara Viksmoen; Børud, Bente; Laake, Ida; Baranowska-Hustad, Marta Natalia; Bryant-Bratlie, Diane Lynn & Bekkevold, Terese [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2023). Antibodies against Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, W and Y in serum and saliva of Norwegian adolescents. Vaccine. ISSN 0264-410X. 41(44), p. 6529–6537. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.08.052. Full text in Research Archive
• Orangzeb, Saima; Watle, Sara Viksmoen & Caugant, Dominique A. (2023). Adherence to vaccination guidelines of patients with complete splenectomy in Norway, 2008–2020. Vaccine. ISSN 0264-410X. 41(31), p. 4759–4585. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.06.034. Full text in Research Archive
• Brynildsrud, Ola Brønstad; Watle, Sara Sofie Viksmoen; Alfsnes, Kristian & Caugant, Dominique A. (2023). Invasive meningococcal disease in Norway in the two decades before the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1201-9712. 131, p. 130–139. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.04.005. Full text in Research Archive
• Næss, Lisbeth Meyer; Maugesten, Ingunn S.; Caugant, Dominique Andree Yvette; Kassu, Afework; Aseffa, Abraham & Børud, Bente (2023). Genetic, Functional, and Immunogenic Analyses of the O-Linked Protein Glycosylation System in Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup A ST-7 Isolates. Journal of Bacteriology. ISSN 0021-9193. 205(3). doi: 10.1128/jb.00458-22.
• Asturias, Edwin J.; Bai, Xilian; Bettinger, Julie A.; Borrow, Ray; Castillo, Delia Nais & Caugant, Dominique Andree Yvette [Show all 30 contributors for this article] (2022). Meningococcal disease in North America: Updates from the Global Meningococcal Initiative. Journal of Infection. ISSN 0163-4453. 85(6), p. 611–622. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.10.022. Full text in Research Archive
• Vollan, Hilde Synnøve; Caugant, Dominique Andree Yvette; Eldholm, Vegard; Alfsnes, Kristian; Debech, Nadia & Brynildsrud, Ola Brønstad (2022). Naturally occurring Neisseria gonorrhoeae can have large deletions in housekeeping gene abcZ, making them untypable with multilocus sequence typing. Microbial Genomics. ISSN 2057-5858. 8(9). doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.000889. Full text in Research Archive
• Alderson, Mark R.; Arkwright, Peter D.; Bai, Xilian; Black, Steve; Borrow, Ray & Caugant, Dominique Andree Yvette [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2021). Surveillance and control of meningococcal disease in the COVID-19 era: A Global Meningococcal Initiative review. Journal of Infection. ISSN 0163-4453. 84(3), p. 289–296. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.11.016. Full text in Research Archive
• Osnes, Magnus Nygård; Alfsnes, Kristian; Bråte, Jon; Garcia Llorente, Ignacio; Riis, Rasmus Kopperud & Instefjord, Kamilla Heddeland [Show all 16 contributors for this article] (2021). The impact of global lineage dynamics, border restrictions, and emergence of the B.1.1.7 lineage on the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Norway. Virus Evolution. ISSN 2057-1577. 7(2), p. 1–7. doi: 10.1093/ve/veab086. Full text in Research Archive
• Sharma, Supriya; Acharya, Jyoti; Caugant, Dominique Andree Yvette; Aryal, Shreedhar; Banjara, Megha Raj & Ghimire, Prakash [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Meningococcal Carriage among Household Contacts of Patients with Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Kathmandu, Nepal: A Longitudinal Study. Pathogens. ISSN 2076-0817. 10(7). doi: 10.3390/pathogens10070781. Full text in Research Archive
• MacAlasdair, Neil; Pesonen, Maiju; Brynildsrud, Ola Brønstad; Eldholm, Vegard; Kristiansen, Paul Arne & Corander, Jukka [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). The effect of recombination on the evolution of a population of Neisseria meningitidis. Genome Research. ISSN 1088-9051. 31(7), p. 1258–1268. doi: 10.1101/gr.264465.120. Full text in Research Archive
• Diallo, Kanny; Feteh, Vitalis Fambombi; Ibe, Lilian; Antonio, Martin; Caugant, Dominique Andree Yvette & Plessis, Mignon du [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2021). Molecular diagnostic assays for the detection of common bacterial meningitis pathogens: A narrative review. EBioMedicine. ISSN 2352-3964. 65. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103274. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Bacterial meningitis is a major global cause of morbidity and mortality. Rapid identification of the aetiologicalagent of meningitis is essential for clinical and public health management and disease prevention given thewide range of pathogens that cause the clinical syndrome and the availability of vaccines that protect againstsome, but not all, of these. Since microbiological culture is complex, slow, and often impacted by prior anti-microbial treatment of the patient, molecular diagnostic assays have been developed for bacterial detection.Distinguishing between meningitis caused byNeisseria meningitidis(meningococcus),Streptococcus pneumo-niae(pneumococcus),Haemophilus influenzae, andStreptococcus agalactiaeand identifying their polysaccha-ride capsules is especially important. Here, we review methods used in the identification of these bacteria,providing an up-to-date account of available assays, allowing clinicians and diagnostic laboratories to makeinformed decisions about which assays to use.

• Sharma, Supriya; Acharya, Jyoti; Caugant, Dominique A; Banjara, Megha Raj; Ghimire, Prakash & Singh, Anjana (2021). Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae in Culture Negative Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples from Meningitis Patients Using a Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction in Nepal. Infectious Disease Reports. ISSN 2036-7430. 13(1), p. 173–180. doi: 10.3390/IDR13010019. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The rapid identification of bacteria causing meningitis is crucial as delays in the treatment increase mortality rate. Though considered as the gold standard for the laboratory diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, culture might give false negative results in a case of patients under antibiotics prior to lumbar puncture. This study aimed to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in culture-negative cerebrospinal fluid samples collected from clinically suspected meningitis cases attending different hospitals in Kathmandu, Nepal from January 2017 to December 2019. S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis and H. influenzae were detected in 8.59% (33/384) of the specimens by PCR and 7.55% (29/384) of the specimens by culture. Correlation between culture and PCR of the same sample was good (Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient = 0.932). However, the difference in positivity between culture and PCR was statistically not significant (p value > 0.05). In four specimens, culture could not detect any of the targeted bacteria whereas PCR could detect presence of H. influenzae. PCR increases the diagnostic yield for bacterial meningitis. PCR may be considered as an adjunctive test for establishing the cause of infection in culture negative clinically suspected meningitis cases.

• Watle, Sara Sofie Viksmoen; Næss, Lisbeth Meyer; Tunheim, Gro; Caugant, Dominique A & Wisløff, Torbjørn (2021). Cost-effectiveness of meningococcal vaccination of Norwegian teenagers with a quadrivalent ACWY conjugate vaccine. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. ISSN 2164-5515. 17(8), p. 2777–2787. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2021.1880209. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In Norway, the incidence of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is higher among 16–19-year-olds than in the general population. Most IMD cases among teenagers are caused by serogroup Y. Since 2011, one dose of meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccine (MCV4) has been recommended for teenagers with out- of-pocket payment. The teenagers are usually vaccinated through the school health service at age 18. This study aimed to estimate costs and health gains of introducing MCV4 to Norwegian teenagers through the national immunization program (NIP). A Markov model was used to analyze the cost-effectiveness of universal MCV4 vaccination of either 15-year-olds or 18-years-olds. Occurrences of IMD were simulated from 15 until 23 years of age. Costs were estimated from a healthcare perspective. Sensitivity analyses evaluated the impact of vaccine price, vaccination uptake, IMD incidence and discount rate. Compared to today’s practice of vaccinating 18-year-olds with out-of-pocket payment, introducing MCV4 to 15-year- olds in a NIP-setting, with 90% vaccine uptake and 50% rebate on vaccine price, prevented 3.2 hospita-lizations, 0.20 sequelae and 0.47 deaths among 15–23-year-olds, annually. Total costs were reduced by €30,000 and 9.7 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were gained per birth cohort. The probability of cost- effectiveness was 99.0%, assuming a willingness-to-pay threshold of €86,000/QALY for severe diseases in Norway. Cost-effectiveness was highly dependent on vaccine price. Vaccination of 18-year-olds in a NIP- setting was also cost-effective, but less than NIP-vaccination of 15-year-olds. Introduction of MCV4 to the 15-year-olds in the Norwegian NIP is likely to be cost-effective given a rebate on the vaccine price.

• Aye, Aye Mya Min; Bai, Xilian; Borrow, Ray; Bory, Sotharith; Carlos, Josefina & Caugant, Dominique A [Show all 30 contributors for this article] (2020). Meningococcal disease surveillance in the Asia–Pacific region (2020): The global meningococcal initiative. Journal of Infection. ISSN 0163-4453. 81(5), p. 698–711. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.07.025. Full text in Research Archive
• Rodgers, Elizabeth; Bentley, Stephen D.; Borrow, Ray; Bratcher, Holly B.; Brisse, Sylvain & Brueggemann, Angela B. [Show all 35 contributors for this article] (2020). The global meningitis genome partnership. Journal of Infection. ISSN 0163-4453. 81(4), p. 510–520. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.06.064. Full text in Research Archive
• Osnes, Magnus Nygård; van Dorp, Lucy; Brynildsrud, Ola Brønstad; Alfsnes, Kristian; Schneiders, Thamarai & Templeton, Kate E. [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2020). Antibiotic treatment regimes as a driver of the global population dynamics of a major gonorrhea lineage. Molecular Biology and Evolution (MBE). ISSN 0737-4038. p. 1–13. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msaa282. Full text in Research Archive
• Willerton, Laura; Lucidarme, Jay; Campbell, Helen; Caugant, Dominique A; Claus, Heike & Jacobsson, Susanne [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2020). Geographically widespread invasive meningococcal disease caused by a ciprofloxacin resistant non-groupable strain of the ST-175 clonal complex. Journal of Infection. ISSN 0163-4453. 81(4), p. 575–584. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.08.030. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  s u m m a r y Introduction: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by non-serogroupable (NG) strains mainly affects immunocompromised individuals. Reduced susceptibility to penicillin in meningococci is increasing in Europe but ciprofloxacin resistance remains rare. In 2019, three travel-related meningococcal disease cases caused by a ciprofloxacin-resistant NG strain were identified in England, leading Germany to report four additional IMD cases (2016 to 2019). We describe these and newly identified cases and characterise the strain responsible. Methods: Cases were identified as part of national surveillance and by analysing available genomes using PubMLST tools. Results: Of the cases identified in England in 2019, two geographically distinct cases developed conjunctivitis after returning from Mecca (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and a third linked case presented with IMD. Of the four cases from Germany, three occurred in asylum seekers – two familial and a further geographically distinct case. Further IMD cases were identified in Italy (n = 2; 2017–2018), Sweden (n = 1; 2016) and England (n = 1; 2015). A single ST-175 clonal complex (cc175) strain with genosubtype P1.22–11,15–25 was responsible. Decreased susceptibility to penicillin was widespread with three ciprofloxacin resistant subclusters. Constituent isolates were potentially covered by subcapsular vaccines. Conclusion: This disease associated NG cc175 strain exhibits resistance to antibiotics commonly used to prevent IMD but is potentially covered by subcapsular (meningococcal B) vaccines. Crown Copyright © 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The British Infection Association. This is an open access article under the Open Government License (OGL) (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/)

• Watle, Sara Sofie Viksmoen; Caugant, Dominique A; Tunheim, Gro; Bekkevold, Terese; Laake, Ida & Brynildsrud, Ola Brønstad [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2020). Meningococcal carriage in Norwegian teenagers: strain characterisation and assessment of risk factors. Epidemiology and Infection. ISSN 0950-2688. 148, p. 1–12. doi: 10.1017/S0950268820000734. Full text in Research Archive
• Osnes, Magnus Nygård; Didelot, Xavier; de Korne-Elenbaas, Jolinda; Alfsnes, Kristian; Brynildsrud, Ola Brønstad & Syversen, Gaute [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2020). Sudden emergence of a Neisseria gonorrhoeae clade with reduced susceptibility to extended-spectrum cephalosporins, Norway. Microbial Genomics. ISSN 2057-5858. 6(12). doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.000480. Full text in Research Archive
• Leitmeyer, Katrin; Espinosa, Laura; Broberg, Eeva K.; Struelens, Marc J.; Allerberger, Franz & Dupont, Yves [Show all 42 contributors for this article] (2020). Automated digital reporting of clinical laboratory information to national public health surveillance systems, results of a EU/EEA survey, 2018. Eurosurveillance. ISSN 1025-496X. 25(39). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.39.1900591. Full text in Research Archive
• Feagins, Alicia R.; Ronveaux, Olivier; Taha, Muhamed-Kheir; Caugant, Dominique A; Smith, Vinny & Fernandez, Katya [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2020). Next generation rapid diagnostic tests for meningitis diagnosis. Journal of Infection. ISSN 0163-4453. 81(5), p. 712–718. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.08.049. Full text in Research Archive
• Siira, Lotta Linnea; Vestrheim, Didrik Frimann; Winje, Brita Askeland; Caugant, Dominique & Steens, Anneke (2020). Antimicrobial susceptibility and clonality of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates recovered from invasive disease cases during a period with changes in pneumococcal childhood vaccination, Norway, 2004–2016. Vaccine. ISSN 0264-410X. 38(34), p. 5454–5463. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.06.040. Full text in Research Archive
• Alfsnes, Kristian; Eldholm, Vegard; Olsen, Anne Olaug; Brynildsrud, Ola Brønstad; Bohlin, Jon & Steinbakk, Martin [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2020). Genomic epidemiology and population structure of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Norway, 2016–2017. Microbial Genomics. ISSN 2057-5858. 6(4). doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.000359. Full text in Research Archive
• Vorobieva, Veronika; Furberg, Anne-Sofie; Slotved, Hans-Christian; Bazhukova, Tatiana; Haldorsen, Bjørg & Caugant, Dominique A [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2020). Epidemiological and molecular characterization of Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage strains in pre-school children in Arkhangelsk, northern European Russia, prior to the introduction of conjugate pneumococcal vaccines. BMC Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1471-2334. 20, p. 1–14. doi: 10.1186/s12879-020-04998-5. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: The 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV-13) was introduced in the National Immunization Programme (NIP) schedule in Russia in March 2014. Previously, the 7-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV-7) was marketed in Russia in 2009 but has never been offered for mass vaccination. A carriage study was performed among children in Arkhangelsk in 2006. The objective was to determine the prevalence of carriage, serotype distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility and the molecular structure of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains before marketing and introduction of PCV-13. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a cluster-randomized sample of children and a self-administrated questionnaire for parents/guardians. Nasopharyngeal samples were collected from 438 children younger than 7 years attending nurseries and kindergartens in the Arkhangelsk region, Russia. Detailed demographic data, as well as information about the child’s health, traveling, exposure to antimicrobials within the last 3 months and anthropometric measurements were collected for all study subjects. Variables extracted from the questionnaire were analysed using statistic regression models to estimate the risk of carriage. All pneumococcal isolates were examined with susceptibility testing, serotyping and multilocus sequence typing. Results: The overall prevalence of asymptomatic carriage was high and peaking at 36 months with a rate of 57%. PCV-13 covered 67.3% of the detected strains. High rates of non-susceptibility to penicillin, macrolides and multidrug resistance were associated with specific vaccine serotypes, pandemic clones, and local sequence types. Nine percent of isolates represented three globally disseminated disease-associated pandemic clones; penicillin- and macrolide-resistant clones NorwayNT-42 and Poland6B-20, as well as penicillin- and macrolide-susceptible clone Netherlands3-31. A high level of antimicrobial consumption was noted by the study. According to the parent’s reports, 89.5% of the children used at least one antimicrobial regime since birth. None of the hypothesised predictors of S. pneumoniae carriage were statistically significant in univariable and multivariable logistic models. Conclusions: The study identified a high coverage of the PCV-13-vaccine, but serotype replacement and expansion of globally disseminated disease-associated clones with non-vaccine serotypes may be expected. Further surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and serotype distribution is therefore required.

• Musser, James M.; Beres, Stephen B.; Zhu, Luchang; Olsen, Randall J.; Vuopio, Jaana & Hyyryläinen, Hanne-Leena [Show all 16 contributors for this article] (2020). Reduced In Vitro Susceptibility of Streptococcus pyogenes to β-Lactam Antibiotics Associated with Mutations in the pbp2x Gene Is Geographically Widespread. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. ISSN 0095-1137. 58. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01993-19.
• Sharma, Supriya; Acharya, Jyoti; Caugant, Dominique A; Thapa, Jeewan; Bajracharya, Manju & Kayastha, Madhusudan [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2019). Meningococcal Meningitis: A Multicentric Hospital-based Study in Kathmandu, Nepal. Open Microbiology Journal. ISSN 1874-2858. 13, p. 273–278. doi: 10.2174/1874285801913010273.
• Bai, Xilian; Borrow, Ray; Bukovski, Suzana; Caugant, Dominique A; Culic, Davor & Delic, Snezana [Show all 23 contributors for this article] (2019). Prevention and control of meningococcal disease: Updates from the Global Meningococcal Initiative in Eastern Europe. Journal of Infection. ISSN 0163-4453. 79(6), p. 528–541. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2019.10.018. Full text in Research Archive
• Caugant, Dominique A & Brynildsrud, Ola Brønstad (2019). Neisseria meningitidis: using genomics to understand diversity, evolution and pathogenesis. Nature Reviews Microbiology. ISSN 1740-1526. 18, p. 84–96. doi: 10.1038/s41579-019-0282-6.
• Brynildsrud, Ola Brønstad; Eldholm, Vegard; Rakhimova, Adilya; Kristiansen, Paul Arne & Caugant, Dominique A (2019). Gauging the epidemic potential of a widely circulating non-invasive meningococcal strain in Africa. Microbial Genomics. ISSN 2057-5858. 5(8). doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.000290. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Neisseria meningitidis colonizes the human oropharynx and transmits mainly via asymptomatic carriage. Actual outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis are comparatively rare and occur when susceptible populations are exposed to hypervirulent clones, genetically distinct from the main carriage isolates. However, carriage isolates can evolve into pathogens through a limited number of recombination events. The present study examines the potential for the sequence type (ST)-192, by far the dominant clone recovered in recent meningococcal carriage studies in sub-Saharan Africa, to evolve into a pathogen. We used whole-genome sequencing on a collection of 478 meningococcal isolates sampled from 1- to 29- year-old healthy individuals in Arba Minch, southern Ethiopia in 2014. The ST-192 clone was identified in nearly 60 % of the carriers. Using complementary short- and long-read techniques for whole-genome sequencing, we were able to completely resolve genomes and thereby identify genomic differences between the ST-192 carriage strain and known pathogenic clones with the highest possible resolution. We conclude that it is possible, but unlikely, that ST-192 could evolve into a significant pathogen, thus, becoming the major invasive meningococcus clone in the meningitis belt of Africa following upcoming mass vaccination with a polyvalent conjugate vaccine that targets the A, C, W, Y and X capsules.

• Kachroo, Priyanka; Eraso, Jesus M.; Beres, Stephen B.; Olsen, Randall J.; Zhu, Luchang & Nasser, Waleed [Show all 31 contributors for this article] (2019). Integrated analysis of population genomics, transcriptomics and virulence provides novel insights into Streptococcus pyogenes pathogenesis. Nature Genetics. ISSN 1061-4036. 51(3), p. 548–559. doi: 10.1038/s41588-018-0343-1. Full text in Research Archive
• Greenwood, Brian M.; Aseffa, Abraham; Caugant, Dominique A; Diallo, Kanny; Kristiansen, Paul Arne & Maiden, Martin C.J. [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2019). Narrative review of methods and findings of recent studies on the carriage of meningococci and other Neisseria species in the African Meningitis Belt. Tropical medicine & international health. ISSN 1360-2276. 24(2), p. 143–154. doi: 10.1111/tmi.13185.
• Topaz, Nadav; Caugant, Dominique A; Taha, Muhamed-Kheir; Brynildsrud, Ola Brønstad; Debech, Nadia & Hong, Eva [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2019). Phylogenetic relationships and regional spread of meningococcal strains in the meningitis belt, 2011–2016. EBioMedicine. ISSN 2352-3964. 41, p. 488–496. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.02.054. Full text in Research Archive
• Muzzi, Alessandro; Brozzi, Alessandro; Serino, Laura; Bodini, Margherita; Abad, Raquel & Caugant, Dominique A [Show all 27 contributors for this article] (2019). Genetic Meningococcal Antigen Typing System (gMATS): A genotyping tool that predicts 4CMenB strain coverage worldwide. Vaccine. ISSN 0264-410X. 37(7), p. 991–1000. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.12.061. Full text in Research Archive
• Krone, Manuel; Gray, Steve; Abad, Raquel; Skoczyńska, Anna; Stefanelli, Paola & van der Ende, Arie [Show all 22 contributors for this article] (2019). Increase of invasive meningococcal serogroup W disease in Europe, 2013 to 2017. Eurosurveillance. ISSN 1025-496X. 24(14). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.14.1800245. Full text in Research Archive
• Mihret, Wude; Brusletto, Berit Sletbakk; Øvstebø, Reidun; Siebke, Anne-Marie; Norheim, Gunnstein & Merid, Yared [Show all 15 contributors for this article] (2019). Molecular studies of meningococcal and pneumococcal meningitis patients in Ethiopia. Innate Immunity. ISSN 1753-4259. 25(3), p. 158–167. doi: 10.1177/1753425918806363. Full text in Research Archive
• Avecedo, Reinaldo; Bai, Xilian; Borrow, Ray; Caugant, Dominique A; Carlos, Josefina & Ceyhan, Mehmet [Show all 27 contributors for this article] (2018). The Global Meningococcal Initiative meeting on prevention of meningococcal disease worldwide: epidemiology, surveillance, hypervirulent strains, antibiotic resistance and high-risk populations. Expert Review of Vaccines. ISSN 1476-0584. 18(1), p. 15–30. doi: 10.1080/14760584.2019.1557520.
• Bårnes, Guro Kristine; Gudina, Esayas Kebede; Berhane, Melkamu; Abdissa, Alemseged; Tesfaw, Getnet & Abebe, Gemeda [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2018). New molecular tools for meningitis diagnostics in Ethiopia – a necessary step towards improving antimicrobial prescription. BMC Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1471-2334. 18(1). doi: 10.1186/s12879-018-3589-4. Full text in Research Archive
• Børud, Bente; Bårnes, Guro Kristine; Brynildsrud, Ola Brønstad; Fritzsønn, Elisabeth & Caugant, Dominique A (2018). Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of the O-linked protein glycosylation system reveals high glycan diversity in paired meningococcal carriage isolates. Journal of Bacteriology. ISSN 0021-9193. 200(16). doi: 10.1128/JB.00794-17. Full text in Research Archive
• Bratcher, Holly B.; Brehony, Carina; Heuberger, Sigrid; Pieridou-Bagatzouni, Despo; Křížová, Pavla & Hoffmann, Steen [Show all 19 contributors for this article] (2018). Establishment of the european meningococcal strain collection genome library (EMSC-GL) for the 2011 to 2012 epidemiological year. Eurosurveillance. ISSN 1025-496X. 23(20). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2018.23.20.17-00474. Full text in Research Archive
• Brynhildsrud, Ola Brønstad; Eldholm, Vegard; Bohlin, Jon; Uadiale, Kennedy; Obaro, Stephen & Caugant, Dominique A (2018). Acquisition of virulence genes by a carrier strain gave rise to the ongoing epidemics of meningococcal disease in West Africa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. ISSN 0027-8424. 115(21), p. 5510–5515. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1802298115. Full text in Research Archive
• McNeil, Lisa K.; Donald, Robert G. K.; Gribenko, Alexey; French, Roger; Lambert, Nathaniel & Harris, Shannon L. [Show all 26 contributors for this article] (2018). Predicting the Susceptibility of Meningococcal Serogroup B Isolates to Bactericidal Antibodies Elicited by Bivalent rLP2086, a Novel Prophylactic Vaccine. mBio. ISSN 2161-2129. 9(2). doi: 10.1128/mBio.00036-18. Full text in Research Archive
• Page, Anne-Laure; Coldiron, Matthew E.; Gamougam, Kadidja; Acyl, Mahmaat Ali; Tamadji, Mbaihol & Lastrucci, Céline [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2017). Four years of case-based surveillance of meningitis following the introduction of MenAfriVac in Moissala, Chad: lessons learned. Tropical medicine & international health. ISSN 1360-2276. 22(12), p. 1561–1568. doi: 10.1111/tmi.12987. Full text in Research Archive
• Vollan, Hilde Synnøve; Tannæs, Tone Møller; Caugant, Dominique A; Vriend, Gert & Bukholm, Geir (2017). Outer membrane phospholipase A's roles in Helicobacter pylori acid adaptation. Gut Pathogens. ISSN 1757-4749. 9(1). doi: 10.1186/s13099-017-0184-y. Full text in Research Archive
• Diallo, Kanny; Gamougam, Kadija; Daugla, Doumagoum M; Harrison, OB; Bray, James E. & Caugant, Dominique A [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2017). Hierarchical genomic analysis of carried and invasive serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis during the 2011 epidemic in Chad. BMC Genomics. ISSN 1471-2164. 18(1). doi: 10.1186/s12864-017-3789-0. Full text in Research Archive
• Bårnes, Guro Kristine; Brynildsrud, Ola Brønstad; Børud, Bente; Workalemahu, Bereket; Kristiansen, Paul Arne & Beyene, Demissew Balcha [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2017). Whole genome sequencing reveals within-host genetic changes in paired meningococcal carriage isolates from Ethiopia. BMC Genomics. ISSN 1471-2164. 18. doi: 10.1186/s12864-017-3806-3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Meningococcal colonization is a prerequisite for transmission and disease, but the bacterium only very infrequently causes disease while asymptomatic carriage is common. Carriage is highly dynamic, showing a great variety across time and space within and across populations, but also within individuals. The understanding of genetic changes in the meningococcus during carriage, when the bacteria resides in its natural niche, is important for understanding not only the carriage state, but the dynamics of the entire meningococcal population. Results Paired meningococcal isolates, obtained from 50 asymptomatic carriers about 2 months apart were analyzed with whole genome sequencing (WGS). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that most paired isolates from the same individual were closely related, and the average and median number of allelic differences between paired isolates defined as the same strain was 35. About twice as many differences were seen between isolates from different individuals within the same sequence type (ST). In 8%, different strains were detected at different time points. A difference in ST was observed in 6%, including an individual who was found to carry three different STs over the course of 9 weeks. One individual carried different strains from the same ST. In total, 566 of 1605 cgMLST genes had undergone within-host genetic changes in one or more pairs. The most frequently changed cgMLST gene was relA that was changed in 47% of pairs. Across the whole genome, pilE, differed mostly, in 85% of the pairs. The most frequent mechanisms of genetic difference between paired isolates were phase variation and recombination, including gene conversion. Different STs showed variation with regard to which genes that were most frequently changed, mostly due to absence/presence of phase variation.

• Borrow, Ray; Caugant, Dominique A; Ceyhan, Mehmet; Christensen, Hannah; Dinleyici, Ener Cagri & Findlow, Jamie [Show all 15 contributors for this article] (2017). Meningococcal disease in the Middle East and Africa: Findings and updates from the Global Meningococcal Initiative. Journal of Infection. ISSN 0163-4453. 75(1), p. 1–11. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2017.04.007. Full text in Research Archive
• Chow, Jaime; Uadiale, Kennedy; Bestman, Agatha; Kamau, Charity; Caugant, Dominique A & Shehu, Aminu [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2016). Invasive Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C Outbreak in Northwest Nigeria, 2015 - Third Consecutive Outbreak of a New Strain. PLOS Currents. ISSN 2157-3999. 8(264658). doi: 10.1371/currents.outbreaks.06d10b6b4e690917d8b0a04268906143.
• Bårnes, Guro Kristine; Kristiansen, Paul Arne; Beyene, Demissew; Workalemahu, Bereket; Fissiha, Paulos & Merdekios, Behailu [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2016). Prevalence and epidemiology of meningococcal carriage in Southern Ethiopia prior to implementation of MenAfriVac, a conjugate vaccine. BMC Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1471-2334. 16(1). doi: 10.1186/s12879-016-1975-3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Neisseria meningitidis colonizes humans and transmits mainly by asymptomatic carriage. We sought to determine the prevalence and epidemiology of meningococcal carriage in Ethiopia prior to the introduction of MenAfriVac, a serogroup A meningococcal conjugate vaccine. Methods A cross-sectional meningococcal carriage study was conducted in Arba Minch, southern Ethiopia. A total of 7479 oropharyngeal samples were collected from 1 to 29 year old volunteers, between March and October, 2014. The swabs were cultured for N. meningitidis and Neisseria lactamica in Ethiopia. N. meningitidis isolates were confirmed and characterized by their serogroup, sequence type (ST) and PorA:FetA profile in Norway. Results Overall carriage prevalence was 6.6 %. There was no significant difference in overall carriage between male (6.7 %) and female (6.4 %) participants. Highest carriage prevalence (10.9 %) for females was found in the 15–19 years of age, while prevalence among males was highest (11.3 %) in the 20–24 age group. Non-groupable isolates dominated (76.4 %), followed by serogroups X (14.0 %) and W (5.9 %) isolates. No serogroup A was found. Most non-groupable isolates were ST-192. Serogroup W isolates were assigned to the ST-11 clonal complex, and serogroup X isolates to the ST-181 and ST-41/44 clonal complexes. Overall carriage prevalence of N. lactamica was 28.1 %. Carriage of N. meningitidis and N. lactamica varied depending on age and geographic area, but there was no association between carriage of the two species. Conclusions Epidemic strains of serogroups W and X were circulating in this area of Ethiopia. As no serogroup A was found among the carriage isolates the immediate impact of mass-vaccination with MenAfriVac on transmission of N. meningitidis in this population is expected to be marginal.

• Borrow, Ray; Alarcon, Pedro; Carlos, Josefina; Caugant, Dominique A; Christensen, Hannah & Debbag, Roberto [Show all 19 contributors for this article] (2016). The Global Meningococcal Initiative: global epidemiology, the impact of vaccines on meningococcal disease and the importance of herd protection. Expert Review of Vaccines. ISSN 1476-0584. 16(4), p. 313–328. doi: 10.1080/14760584.2017.1258308.
• Kretz, Cecilia B.; Retchless, Adam C.; Sidikou, Fati; Issaka, Bassira; Ousmane, Sani & Schwartz, Stephanie [Show all 21 contributors for this article] (2016). Whole-genome characterization of epidemic Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C and resurgence of serogroup W, Niger, 2015. Emerging Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1080-6040. 22(10), p. 1762–1768. doi: 10.3201/eid2210.160468. Show summary

  In 2015, Niger reported the largest epidemic of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C (NmC) meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa. The NmC epidemic coincided with serogroup W (NmW) cases during the epidemic season, resulting in a total of 9,367 meningococcal cases through June 2015. To clarify the phylogenetic association, genetic evolution, and antibiotic determinants of the meningococcal strains in Niger, we sequenced the genomes of 102 isolates from this epidemic, comprising 81 NmC and 21 NmW isolates. The genomes of 82 isolates were completed, and all 102 were included in the analysis. All NmC isolates had sequence type 10217, which caused the outbreaks in Nigeria during 2013-2014 and for which a clonal complex has not yet been defined. The NmC isolates from Niger were substantially different from other NmC isolates collected globally. All NmW isolates belonged to clonal complex 11 and were closely related to the isolates causing recent outbreaks in Africa.

• Uadiale, Kennedy; Bestman, Agatha; Kamau, Charity; Caugant, Dominique A & Greig, Jane (2016). Evaluation of Pastorex meningitis kit performance for the rapid identification of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C in Nigeria. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. ISSN 0035-9203. 110(7), p. 381–385. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trw046.
• Bårnes, Guro Kristine; Workalemahu, Bereket; Kristiansen, Paul Arne; Beyene, Demissew Balcha; Merdekios, Behailu & Fissiha, P. [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2016). Salivary and serum antibody response against Neisseria meningitidis after vaccination with conjugate polysaccharide vaccines in Ethiopian volunteers. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. ISSN 0300-9475. 84(2), p. 118–129. doi: 10.1111/sji.12451. Full text in Research Archive
• Naseer, Mohammed Umaer; Steinbakk, Martin; Blystad, Hans Henrik & Caugant, Dominique A (2016). Epidemiology of invasive group A streptococcal infections in Norway 2010–2014: A retrospective cohort study. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. ISSN 0934-9723. 35(10), p. 1639–1648. doi: 10.1007/s10096-016-2704-y.
• Mihret, Wude; Lema, Tsehaynesh; Merid, Yared; Kassu, Afework; Abebe, Workeabeba & Moges, Beyene [Show all 20 contributors for this article] (2016). Surveillance of bacterial meningitis, Ethiopia, 2012–2013. Emerging Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1080-6040. 22(1), p. 75–78. doi: 10.3201/eid2201.150432. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Ethiopia has the second-largest population (≈94 million in 2013) among the meningitis belt countries of sub-Saharan Africa (1). However, during 2001–2010, a median of only 1,056 suspected meningitis cases per year (range 5–8,571/year) was reported to the World Health Organization (2). The largest meningitis epidemics occurred in 1981 (3) and 1989 (4), resulting in ≈45,000 and ≈50,000 cases, respectively. Serogroup A meningococci were the major cause of these epidemics, although serogroup C strains were also identified in 1981, 1983–84, and during outbreaks in 2000 and 2003 (5). Conjugate vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae serotype b, Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine [PCV] 10), and Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A (MenAfriVac) were introduced in 2007, 2011, and 2013–2015, respectively. Because data permitting assessment of these vaccines are limited, we implemented a surveillance study.

• Diomandé, Fabien V.K.; Djingarey, Mamoudou H.; Daugla, Doumagoum M.; Novak, Ryan T.; Kristiansen, Paul Arne & Collard, Jean-Marc [Show all 20 contributors for this article] (2015). Public health impact after the introduction of PsA-TT: The first 4 years. Clinical Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1058-4838. 61, p. S467–S472. doi: 10.1093/cid/civ499.
• Harrison, Odile B; Bray, James E.; Maiden, Martin C.J. & Caugant, Dominique A (2015). Genomic Analysis of the Evolution and Global Spread of Hyper-invasive Meningococcal Lineage 5. EBioMedicine. ISSN 2352-3964. 2(3), p. 234–243. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2015.01.004.
• Kristiansen, Paul Arne; Jørgensen, Hannah Joan & Caugant, Dominique (2015). Serogroup A meningococcal conjugate vaccines in Africa. Expert Review of Vaccines. ISSN 1476-0584. 14(11), p. 1441–1458. doi: 10.1586/14760584.2015.1084232.
• Steens, Anneke; Caugant, Dominique A; Aaberge, Ingeborg Sundsvalen & VESTRHEIM, DIDRIK FRIMANN (2015). Decreased carriage and genetic shifts in the Streptococcus pneumoniae population after changing the seven-valent to the thirteen-valent pneumococcal vaccine in Norway. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. ISSN 0891-3668. 34(8), p. 875–883. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000000751.
• Bårnes, Guro Kristine; Kristiansen, Paul Arne; Caugant, Dominique A & Næss, Lisbeth Meyer (2015). Development and evaluation of a multiplex microsphere assay for quantification of IgG and IgA antibodies against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A, C, W and Y polysaccharides. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology. ISSN 1556-6811. 22(7), p. 697–705. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00087-15. Full text in Research Archive
• Gamougam, Kadidja; Daugla, Doumagoum M.; Toralta, Jacques; Ngadoua, Cyriaque; Fermon, Florence & Page, Anne-Laure [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2015). Continuing effectiveness of serogroup a meningococcal conjugate Vaccine, Chad, 2013. Emerging Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1080-6040. 21(1), p. 115–118. doi: 10.3201/eid2101.140256.
• Kristiansen, Paul Arne; Ba, Absatou Ky; Ouédraogo, Abdoul-Salam; Sanou, Idrissa; Ouédraogo, Rasmata & Sangaré, Lassana [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2014). Persistent low carriage of serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis two years after mass vaccination with the meningococcal conjugate vaccine, MenAfriVac. BMC Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1471-2334. 14:663. doi: 10.1186/s12879-014-0663-4. Full text in Research Archive
• Eldholm, Vegard; Norheim, Gunnstein; Lippe, Bent von der; Kinander, Wibeke; Dahle, Ulf R & Caugant, Dominique A [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2014). Evolution of extensively drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis from a susceptible ancestor in a single patient. Genome Biology. ISSN 1465-6906. 15(11). doi: 10.1186/s13059-014-0490-3. Full text in Research Archive
• Holst, Johan; Comanducci, M; Bambini, S; Muzzi, A; Comandi, S & Oksnes, Jan [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2014). Variability of genes encoding surface proteins used as vaccine antigens in meningococcal endemic and epidemic strain panels from Norway. Vaccine. ISSN 0264-410X. 32(23), p. 2722–2731. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.02.068.
• Brehony, Carina; Trotter, Caroline L.; Ramsay, Mary E.; Chandra, Manosree; Jolley, Keith A. & van der Ende, Arie [Show all 30 contributors for this article] (2014). Implications of differential age distribution of disease-associated meningococcal lineages for vaccine development. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology. ISSN 1556-6811. 21(6), p. 847–853. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00133-14.
• Nasser, *; Beres, S; Olsen, R; Dean, M; Rice, K & Long, S [Show all 19 contributors for this article] (2014). Evolutionary pathway to increased virulence and epidemic group A Streptococcus disease derived from 3,615 genome sequences. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. ISSN 0027-8424. 111(17), p. E1768–E1776. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1403138111.
• Lund, Vidar; Fonahn, Wenche; Pettersen, Jens Erik; Caugant, Dominique A; Ask, Eirik & Nysæter, Åse (2014). Detection of Legionella by cultivation and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in biological waste water treatment plants in Norway. Journal of Water and Health. ISSN 1477-8920. 12(3), p. 543–554. doi: 10.2166/wh.2014.063.
• Koeberling, O; Ispasanie, E; Hauser, Julia; Rossi, Omar; Pluschke, Gerd & Caugant, Dominique [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2014). A broadly-protective vaccine against meningococcal disease in sub-Saharan Africa based on Generalized Modules for Membrane Antigens (GMMA). Vaccine. ISSN 0264-410X. 32(23), p. 2688–2695. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.03.068.
• Kolberg, Jan Isak; Aase, Audun; Næss, Lisbeth Meyer; Aaberge, Ingeborg Sundsvalen & Caugant, Dominique A (2014). Human antibody responses to pneumococcal surface protein A and capsular polysaccharides during acute and convalescent stages of invasive disease in adult patients. Pathogens and Disease. ISSN 2049-632X. 70(1), p. 40–50. doi: 10.1111/2049-632X.12106.
• Skaare, Dagfinn; Anthonisen, Inger Lill; Caugant, Dominique A; Jenkins, Andrew; Steinbakk, Martin & Strand, Linda [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2014). Multilocus sequence typing and ftsI sequencing: A powerful tool for surveillance of penicillin-binding protein 3-mediated beta-lactam resistance in nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae. BMC Microbiology. ISSN 1471-2180. 14. doi: 10.1186/1471-2180-14-131. Full text in Research Archive
• Daugla, D M; Gami, J P; Gamougam, K; Naibei, N; Mbainadji, L & Narbé, M [Show all 29 contributors for this article] (2014). Effect of a serogroup A meningococcal conjugate vaccine (PsA-TT) on serogroup A meningococcal meningitis and carriage in Chad: a community study. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 383(9911), p. 40–47. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61612-8.
• Hoiseth, Susan K; Murphy, Ellen; Andrew, Lubomira; Vogel, Ulrich; Frosch, Matthias & Hellenbrand, Wiebke [Show all 22 contributors for this article] (2013). A Multi-country Evaluation of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup B Factor H-Binding Proteins and Implications for Vaccine Coverage in Different Age Groups. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. ISSN 0891-3668. 32(10), p. 1096–1101. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e31829aa63b.
• Kristiansen, Paul Arne; Ba, Absatou Ky; Sanou, Idrissa; Ouédraogo, Abdoul-Salam; Ouédraogo, Rasmata & Sangaré, Lassana [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2013). Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of meningococcal carriage and disease isolates in Burkina Faso after mass vaccination with a serogroup a conjugate vaccine. BMC Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1471-2334. 13. doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-13-363. Full text in Research Archive
• Beauté, Julien; Zucs, P; de Jong, B; Borgen, Katrine; Caugant, Dominique A & Rønning, Karin (2013). Legionnaires' disease in Europe, 2009-2010. Eurosurveillance. ISSN 1025-496X. 18(10). Full text in Research Archive
• Vogel, Ulrich; Taha, Muhamed-Kheir; Vazquez, Julio A.; Findlow, Jamie; Claus, Heike & Stefanelli, Paola [Show all 36 contributors for this article] (2013). Predicted strain coverage of a meningococcal multicomponent vaccine (4CMenB) in Europe: a qualitative and quantitative assessment. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1473-3099. 13(5), p. 416–425. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70006-9.
• Kristiansen, Paul Arne; Diomandé, Fabien; Ba, Absatou Ky; Sanou, Idrissa; Ouédraogo, Abdoul-Salam & Ouédraogo, Rasmata [Show all 21 contributors for this article] (2013). Impact of the Serogroup A Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine, MenAfriVac, on Carriage and Herd Immunity. Clinical Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1058-4838. 56(3), p. 354–363. doi: 10.1093/cid/cis892.
• Wedege, Elisabeth; Bolstad, Karin; Borgen, Katrine; Fritzsønn, Elisabeth & Caugant, Dominique A (2013). Molecular characterization of clinical and environmental isolates of Legionella pneumophila in Norway, 2001-2008. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases. ISSN 0036-5548. 45(1), p. 59–64. doi: 10.3109/00365548.2012.710855.
• Kristiansen, Paul Arne; Diomandé, Fabien; Ouédraogo, Rasmata; Sanou, Idrissa; Sangaré, Lassana & Ouédraogo, Abdoul-Salam [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2012). Carriage of Neisseria lactamica in 1-to 29-Year-Old People in Burkina Faso: Epidemiology and Molecular Characterization. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. ISSN 0095-1137. 50(12), p. 4020–4027. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01717-12.

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• Topaz, Nadav; Caugant, Dominique Andree Yvette; Taha, Muhamed-Kheir; Brynildsrud, Ola Brønstad; Debech, Nadia & Hong, Eva [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2020). Corrigendum to “Phylogenetic relationships and regional spread of meningococcal strains in the meningitis belt, 2011–2016” (EBioMedicine (2019) 41 (488–496), (S2352396419301331), (10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.02.054)). EBioMedicine. ISSN 2352-3964. 51. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.11.025.
• Eriksson, Jens; Caugant, Dominique A; Koomey, Michael & Tonjum, Tone (2013). Genetically engineered Neisseria lactamica as a vaccine delivery agent. Show summary

  Objective Carriers of Neisseria lactamica (Nla) develop mucosal and systemic humoral immunity to Nla together with cross-reacting systemic opsonophagocytic, but not bactericidal, antibodies to N. meningitidis (Mc). Modification of Nla to express an optimal profile of Mc antigens, relevant for vaccine purposes, is dependent on efficient in vitro genetic manipulation of Nla strains. A major obstacle to using Nla in antigen delivery is its recalcitrance to genetic manipulation in vitro. Therefore, we investigated both the cause, and means to circumvent, the resistance to genetic manipulation in strains of Nla. Methods Genome sequences of Nla were investigated for unique Restriction-modification systems (RM). A synthetic antibiotic resistance marker, designed to avoid DNA motifs recognized by Nla-specific RM, was constructed. Standard transformation assays were employed to measure transformation efficiencies in a representative library of MLST sequenced Nla strains. Results Resistance to genetic manipulation in Nla is caused by the presence of RM. By disrupting a unique restriction endonuclease gene with the synthetic antibiotic resistance marker, we managed to reduce the gene-flow barrier in Nla and, for the first time, unlock the natural competence of this organism for genetic manipulation. This includes exogenous DNA from other species, such as N. meningitidis. Conclusions Our study indicates that it is indeed possible to engineer N. lactamica to express defined N. meningitidis, as well as any other, vaccine antigens.

• Tønjum, Tone; Eriksson, Jens & Caugant, Dominique A (2013). Genetically engineered Neisseria lactamica as a vaccine delivery agent. Show summary

  Objective Neisseria lactamica (Nla) belongs to the normal flora of the oro-pharynx. Carriers of Nla develop mucosal and systemic humoral immunity to Nla together with cross-reacting systemic opsonophagocytic, but not bactericidal, antibodies to the closely related pathogen N. meningitidis (the meningococcus, Mc). Modification of Nla to express an optimal profile of Mc antigens, relevant for vaccine purposes, is dependent on efficient in vitro genetic manipulation of Nla strains. A major obstacle to using Nla in antigen delivery is its recalcitrance to genetic manipulation in vitro. Therefore, we investigated both the cause, and means, to circumvent the resistance to genetic manipulation in strains of Nla. Methods Standard transformation assays were employed to measure the natural transformation efficiency in a representative library of MLST sequenced Nla strains including the most widely used human challenge Nla strain. Genome sequences of Nla were investigated for unique Restriction-Modification systems (RM). A synthetic antibiotic resistance marker, designed to avoid DNA motifs recognized by Nla-specific RM, was constructed and introduced by forced transformation into the most competent Nla strain. Results Resistance to genetic manipulation in Nla is caused by the presence of multiple RM. By disrupting a unique restriction endonuclease gene with the synthetic antibiotic resistance marker, we managed to reduce the gene-flow barrier in Nla and, for the first time, unleash the potential of the natural competence of this organism for genetic manipulation. Thereby exogenous DNA, including that from other species such as Mc, can successully be introduced into the Mc genome. Conclusions Our study indicates that it is indeed possible to engineer Nla strains to express defined Mc antigens, as well as any other, vaccine antigens. Potentially, the new Nla strains can be used to enrich the immunogenic potential of the normal oro-pharyngeal flora.

• Hasseltvedt, Viggo & Caugant, Dominique A (2012). Bacteraemia caused by genus Oligella. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1201-9712. 16, p. E222–E223. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2012.05.823.
• Caugant, Dominique Andree Yvette; Kløvstad, Hilde; Nilsen, Øivind Jul & Olsen, Anne Olaug (2023). Annual Surveillance Report 2022 for Sexual Transmitted Infections. Folkehelseinstituttet, Område for smittevern, miljø og helse. ISSN 2387-3450. Full text in Research Archive
• Simonsen, Gunnar Skov; Blix, Hege Salvesen; Grave, Kari; Urdahl, Anne Margrete; Akselsen, Per Espen & Andersen, Cecilie Torp [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2022). NORM/NORM-VET 2021: Usage of Antimicrobial Agents and Occurrence of Antimicrobial Resistance in Norway. Veterinærinstituttet og Folkehelseinstituttet. ISSN 1502-2307. 2022(1). Full text in Research Archive
• Caugant, Dominique Andree Yvette; Kløvstad, Hilde; Nilsen, Øivind Jul & Olsen, Anne Olaug (2022). 2021 Annual Surveillance Report for Sexual Transmitted Infections. Folkehelseinstituttet, Område for smittevern, miljø og helse. ISSN 2387-3450. Full text in Research Archive
• Caugant, Dominique Andree Yvette; Kløvstad, Hilde; Nilsen, Øivind Jul; Olsen, Anne Olaug & Whittaker, Robert Neil (2021). Overvåkning av seksuelt overførbare infeksjoner. Årsrapport 2020. . Folkehelseinstituttet, Område for smittevern, miljø og helse. ISSN 2387-3450. Full text in Research Archive
• Caugant, Dominique Andree Yvette; Kløvstad, Hilde; Nilsen, Øivind Jul & Whittaker, Robert Neil (2020). Overvåkning av seksuelt overførbare infeksjoner. Årsrapport 2019. Folkehelseinstituttet, Område for smittevern, miljø og helse. ISSN 2387-3450. Full text in Research Archive
• Blystad, Hans Henrik; Caugant, Dominique Andree Yvette; Kløvstad, Hilde; Nilsen, Øivind Jul & Rykkvin, Rikard (2019). 2018 Annual Surveillance Report for Sexual Transmitted Infections and Bloodborne hepatitis. Folkehelseinstituttet, Område for smittevern, miljø og helse. ISSN 2387-3450. Full text in Research Archive
• Berg, Are Stuwitz; Berild, Jacob Dag; Caugant, Dominique Andree Yvette; Haugen, Inger Lise; Konsmo, Kirsten & Steinbakk, Martin [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2018). Årsrapport 2017 Invasive infeksjoner. Folkehelseinstituttet, Område for smittevern, miljø og helse. ISSN 1894-9088. Full text in Research Archive
• Vollan, Hilde Synnøve; Bukholm, Geir; Caugant, Dominique A; Tannæs, Tone Møller & Vriend, Gerrit (2018). In silico analyzes of porins involved in niche adaptation: Exploring the role of Helicobacter pylori outer membrane phospholipase A in acid tolerance. Universitetet i Oslo. ISSN 978-82-8377-183-1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Helicobacter pylori is an ulcer-causing bacterium that evolutionary needs to adapt quickly to changing conditions. Hilde Synnøve Vollan’s bioinformatics studies revealed that H. pylori outer membrane phospholipase A (OMPLA) is multifunctional with both enzymatic and pore activity. OMPLA is a protein found in a variety of bacterial species, and usually functions as an enzyme that degrades the outer membrane. Previous studies indicate that OMPLA must be intact for H. pylori survival in an acidic environment, while its enzymatic activity is not required. The present study presents the hypothesis that OMPLA is involved in acid management. Analyzes of the modeled H. pylori OMPLA 3D structure indicate that the niche-adaption likely is urea-influx and ammonium-efflux. This model may be paradigmatic for all gastric Helicobacter species. This work will be used in future studies aimed at preventing ulcers and gastric cancers caused by H. pylori.

• Berg, Are Stuwitz; Caugant, Dominique Andree Yvette; Haugen, Inger Lise; Konsmo, Kirsten; Steinbakk, Martin & Storsæter, Jann [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2017). Årsrapport for 2016 - Invasive infeksjoner. Folkehelseinstituttet, Område for smittevern, miljø og helse. ISSN 1894-9088. Full text in Research Archive
• Caugant, Dominique Andree Yvette; Haugen, Inger Lise; Konsmo, Kirsten; Nordstrand, Karine; Steinbakk, Martin & Storsæter, Jann [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2016). Invasive infeksjoner. Årsrapport for 2015. Folkehelseinstituttet, Område for smittevern, miljø og helse. ISSN 1894-9088. Full text in Research Archive
• Caugant, Dominique Andree Yvette; Haugen, Inger Lise; Konsmo, Kirsten; Nordstrand, Karine; Steinbakk, Martin & Storsæter, Jann [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2015). Invasive infeksjoner. Årsrapport 2014. Folkehelseinstituttet, Divisjon for Smittevern. ISSN 1894-9088. Full text in Research Archive
• Andersen, Cecilie Torp; Simonsen, Gunnar Skov; Arnesen, Trude Margrete; Urdahl, Anne Margrete; Astrup, Elisabeth & Blix, Hege Salvesen [Show all 18 contributors for this article] (2015). NORM/NORM-VET 2014. Usage of Antimicrobial Agents and Occurrence of Antimicrobial Resistance in Norway. NORM/NORM-VET. ISSN 1502-2307.
• Blystad, Hans Henrik; Caugant, Dominique A; Flem, Elmira; Haugen, Inger Lise; Næss, Lisbeth Meyer & Nøkleby, Hanne Magdalene (2014). Meningokokksykdom i Norge og anbefalinger for bruk av meningokokkvaksiner. Folkehelseinstituttet. ISSN 978-82-8082-621-3. 2014(5). Full text in Research Archive
• Blystad, Hans Henrik; Caugant, Dominique A; Haugen, Inger Lise; Konsmo, Kirsten; Steens, Anneke & Steinbakk, Martin [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2014). Årsrapport for 2013. Invasive infeksjoner. Folkehelseinstituttet. Full text in Research Archive
• Blystad, Hans Henrik; Caugant, Dominique A; Haugen, Inger Lise; Konsmo, Kirsten; Steens, Anneke & Steinbakk, Martin [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2013). Årsrapport for 2012. Invasive infeksjoner. Nasjonalt folkehelseinstitutt. ISSN 9788280825834. Full text in Research Archive
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