Perspective on the pathogenic Neisseria: milestones, challenges, and future directions

The 24th International Pathogenic Neisseria Conference (IPNC) marked a shift toward a balanced forum addressing both meningococcal and gonococcal disease. This drove discussion on how multivalent meningococcal vaccines are enabling the WHO roadmap to defeat meningitis by 2030, while highlighting growing evidence that effective gonococcal vaccines are achievable. Major challenges remain, including antimicrobial resistance, limited genomic surveillance and incomplete understanding of pathogenesis and immune evasion. These reflections shaped this perspective piece.