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. 2025 May 10:55:127030.
doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127030. Epub 2025 Mar 30.

Characterization of Canadian Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B isolates and factor-H binding protein expression, data from the Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program Active (IMPACT), 2013-2020

Kevin Meesters  1 , Manish Sadarangani  2 , Stephen A Clark  3 , Ray Borrow  4 , Raymond S W Tsang  5 , Nicole Le Saux  6 , Scott A Halperin  7 , Taj Jadavji  8 , Shaun K Morris  9 , Julie A Bettinger  10 ; members of the Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program Active (IMPACT)  11
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Free article

Characterization of Canadian Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B isolates and factor-H binding protein expression, data from the Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program Active (IMPACT), 2013-2020

Kevin Meesters et al. Vaccine. .
Free article

Abstract

Background: Invasive meningococcal disease, caused by Neisseria meningitidis, remains a significant health threat. This study examined the genetic diversity of serogroup B (NmB) organisms and assessed the potential coverage offered by the MenB-FHbp vaccine, licensed for individuals aged 10-25 years. NmB vaccines have not yet been incorporated into most routine immunization programs in Canada, with the exception of campaigns to deal with specific outbreaks and targeted vaccination efforts for at-risk groups.

Methods: From 2013 to 2020, NmB strains causing invasive meningococcal disease were collected through the Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program ACTive surveillance network. Each isolate underwent analysis to determine clonal complex (CC) and factor-H binding protein peptide (fHbp), and fHbp surface expression using the Meningococcal Antigen Surface Expression (MEASURE) assay.

Results: Of 119 isolates analyzed, 118 coded for full-length fHbp. CC-269 (48 isolates) and CC-41/44 (42 isolates) represented 75.6 % of all isolates. fHbp peptide 15 was the most prevalent peptide up until 2015 (47.4-53.9 %) but declined to 0-22.1 % afterwards. Median fHbp surface expression overall was 4270 MFI (IQR 2132-14,462). Peptides 15 and 210 (both CC-269) had the highest fHbp surface expression: peptide 15 (median: 18,446, IQR: 14,462-22,170) and peptide 210 (median: 28,306, IQR 24,935-31,678). Notably, 90.8 % of isolates had fHbp surface expression at a level associated with MenB-FHbp protection.

Conclusion: CC-269 and CC-41/44 predominated in 2013-2020. Notably, peptide 15, the most prevalent until 2015, declined significantly thereafter. The majority of isolates expressed fHbp at a level associated with vaccine-induced protection. A wider age authorization for the vaccine may result in increased prevention of NmB disease.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Factor H binding protein; Invasive meningococcal disease; MenB-FHbp vaccine; Surveillance.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program Active (IMPACT) reports financial support was provided by Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS). CPS received financial support for meningococcal surveillance from Novartis Vaccines from 2012 to 2015, Pfizoer from 2016 to 2020 and GlaxoSmithKline from 2019 to 2020. Pfizer also provided funding for the additional testing performed in this analysis. Manish Sadarangani reports a relationship with GlaxoSmithKline that includes: funding grants. Manish Sadarangani reports a relationship with Merck & Co Inc. that includes: funding grants. Manish Sadarangani reports a relationship with Moderna Inc. that includes: funding grants. Manish Sadarangani reports a relationship with Pfizer that includes: funding grants. Manish Sadarangani reports a relationship with Sanofi Pasteur Inc. that includes: funding grants. Scott A. Halperin reports a relationship with GlaxoSmithKline that includes: funding grants. Scott A. Halperin reports a relationship with Merck & Co Inc. that includes: funding grants. Scott A. Halperin reports a relationship with Moderna Inc. that includes: funding grants. Scott A. Halperin reports a relationship with Pfizer Inc. that includes: funding grants. Scott A. Halperin reports a relationship with Sanofi Pasteur Inc. that includes: funding grants. Ray Borrow reports a relationship with GlaxoSmithKline Inc. through his institution (UKHSA) that includes: contract research. Ray Borrow reports a relationship with Pfizer Inc. through his institution (UKHSA) that includes: contract research. Ray Borrow reports a relationship with Sanofi through his institution (UKHSA) that includes: contract research. Stephen A. Clark reports a relationship with GlaxoSmithKline Inc. through his institution (UKHSA) that includes: contract research. Stephen A. Clark reports a relationship with Pfizer Inc. through his institution (UKHSA) that includes: contract research. Stephen A. Clark reports a relationship with Sanofi through his institution (UKHSA) that includes: contract research. Shaun K. Morris reports a relationship with GlaxoSmithKline Inc. that includes: advisory, speaking and lecture fees. Shaun K. Morris reports a relationship with Sanofi Pasteur Inc. that includes: advisory, speaking and lecture fees. Shaun K. Morris reports a relationship with Pfizer Inc. that includes: advisory, speaking and lecture fees. Opinions expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors and they do not represent the official view of the Public Health Agency of Canada. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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