Longitudinal genomic analysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae transmission dynamics in Australia
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.
Authors
- Benjamin P. Howden (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0237-1473)
- Charlie Higgs (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7364-7380)
- Eric P. F. Chow (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1766-0657)
- George Taiaroa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3050-1424)
- Mona L. Taouk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3820-5338)
- Danielle J. Ingle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0707-6537)
- Deborah Anne Williamson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7363-6665)
- Darren Y. J. Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6742-2310)
- Christopher Kincaid Fairley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9081-1664)
- Shivani Pasricha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9681-1956)
- Sebastián Duchêne (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2863-0907)
- Soo Jen Low (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5129-9175)
- Marcus Y. Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8924-2043)
- Nasra Higgins
Institutions
- Andrews University (US)
- The Royal Melbourne Hospital (AU)
- Institut Pasteur (FR)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- University of St Andrews (GB)
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (AU)
- Government of Western Australia Department of Health (AU)
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (AU)
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (AU)
- Peter Doherty Institute (AU)
- MRC University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (GB)
- Melbourne Health (AU)
- Alfred Health (AU)
- Monash University (AU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2024-09-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52343-0
- Citations
- 9
- Primary Topic
- Reproductive tract infections research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.10
Funders
- Australian Government
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- State Government of Victoria
- Medical Research Council
- National Health and Medical Research Council