Longitudinal genomic analysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae transmission dynamics in Australia

Mona L. Taouk; George Taiaroa; Sebastian Duchene; Soo Jen Low; Charlie K. Higgs; Darren Y. J. Lee; Shivani Pasricha; Nasra Higgins; Danielle J. Ingle; Benjamin P. Howden; Marcus Y. Chen; Christopher K. Fairley; Eric P. F. Chow; Deborah A. Williamson

doi:10.1038/s41467-024-52343-0

Nature Communications (Sep 2024)

Longitudinal genomic analysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae transmission dynamics in Australia

Mona L. Taouk,
George Taiaroa,
Sebastian Duchene,
Soo Jen Low,
Charlie K. Higgs,
Darren Y. J. Lee,
Shivani Pasricha,
Nasra Higgins,
Danielle J. Ingle,
Benjamin P. Howden,
Marcus Y. Chen,
Christopher K. Fairley,
Eric P. F. Chow,
Deborah A. Williamson

Affiliations

Mona L. Taouk: Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
George Taiaroa: Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Sebastian Duchene: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Soo Jen Low: Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Charlie K. Higgs: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Darren Y. J. Lee: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Shivani Pasricha: Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Nasra Higgins: Victorian Department of Health
Danielle J. Ingle: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Benjamin P. Howden: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Marcus Y. Chen: Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health
Christopher K. Fairley: Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health
Eric P. F. Chow: Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health
Deborah A. Williamson: Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52343-0
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 1
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

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Abstract N. gonorrhoeae, which causes the sexually transmissible infection gonorrhoea, remains a significant public health threat globally, with challenges posed by increasing transmission and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The COVID-19 pandemic introduced exceptional circumstances into communicable disease control, impacting the transmission of gonorrhoea and other infectious diseases. Through phylogenomic and phylodynamic analysis of 5881 N. gonorrhoeae genomes from Australia, we investigated N. gonorrhoeae transmission over five years, including a time period during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a novel cgMLST-based genetic threshold, we demonstrate persistence of large N. gonorrhoeae genomic clusters over several years, with some persistent clusters associated with heterosexual transmission. We observed a decline in both N. gonorrhoeae transmission and genomic diversity during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggestive of an evolutionary bottleneck. The longitudinal, occult transmission of N. gonorrhoeae over many years further highlights the urgent need for improved diagnostic, treatment, and prevention strategies for gonorrhoea.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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