MENINGVAX / MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY / 016
Genomic Surveillance
Using microbial genome sequences to understand meningococcal diversity, detect emerging lineages, and support evidence-based public-health investigations.
01 / THE ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK
From isolate to epidemiological insight
Whole-genome sequencing can resolve genetic relationships among bacterial isolates more precisely than many traditional typing approaches. Results must be interpreted with sampling dates, locations, and epidemiological information.
Collect clinical specimens or cultured isolates.
Generate genomic data with appropriate quality controls.
Analyze alleles, sequence types, or genomic variants.
Relate sequence patterns to surveillance findings.
02 / APPLICATIONS
What genomic surveillance reveals
- Circulating meningococcal lineages and clonal complexes.
- Genetic similarities among outbreak-associated isolates.
- Changes in vaccine antigen sequences.
- Selected genetic markers associated with antimicrobial resistance.
Related genomes do not automatically prove direct transmission.
Genomic findings require integration with contact tracing, clinical history, surveillance completeness, and local pathogen diversity.
Peer-reviewed references
- Whole-genome sequencing for investigations of meningococcal outbreaks in the United States: a retrospective analysis. PubMed ↗
- Enhancing Meningococcal Genomic Surveillance in the Meningitis Belt Using High-Resolution Culture-Free Whole-Genome Sequencing. PubMed ↗
- Genomic Surveillance of Invasive Meningococcal Disease During a National MenW Outbreak in Australia, 2017–2018. PubMed ↗