Draft Programme
| 09:00-17:00 | Registration set up, exhibition, posters |
| 14:00-17:30 | Workshops - TBC
1. New approaches to diagnosis and treatment 2. Gonococcal vaccines
3. Applications of omics |
| 18:00-20:30 | Welcome Reception (Lagoon Beach Hotel) |
| 07:00 | Registration |
| 09:00-09:15 | Introduction/Welcome address (Anne von Gottberg, South Africa) |
| 09:15-10:50 | Meningitis in Africa |
| Chairs: TBC | |
| 09:15-09:45 | Plenary: Brenda Kwambana-Adams (UK) |
| 09:45-10:00 | R. Mikhari (South Africa). Estimated coverage of MenB vaccine target protein types among serogroup B invasive meningococcal disease isolates in South Africa, 2016-2020 (abstract no. 296) |
| 10.00:10.15 | M. Paye (USA). Reinforcing laboratory diagnostic capacity for bacterial meningitis surveillance in the African Meningitis Belt (abstract no. 86) |
| 10:15-10:30 | A. Sadji (Togo). The epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in four northern regions of Togo, 2016-2019 (abstract no. 137) |
| 10:30-10:40 | G. Olanipekun (Nigeria). Etiologic agents of non-epidemic meningitis among pediatric patients in Nigeria: comparison of blood cultures with culture and PCR testing of CSF (abstract no. 247) |
| 10:40-10:50 | R. Charles-Amaza (Nigeria). Laboratory-based surveillance of Neisseria meningitidis in a cerebrospinal meningitis outbreak, Nigeria, 2017-2022 (abstract no. 337) |
| 10:50-11:30 | Coffee break |
| 11:30-12:50 | Host Defence and Immune Responses |
| Chairs: TBC | |
| 11:30-11:45 | W. Song (USA). Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection modulates the local immune environment in the human cervix (abstract no. 82) |
| 11:45-12:00 | J. Laver (UK). Human nasal infection with chromosomally transformed Neisseria lactamica induces heterologous antigen-specific immunity (abstract no. 143) |
| 12:00-12:15 | R. Hardison (USA). Neisseria meningitidis urethritis clade (US_NmUC) acts as a ‘chimeric pathogen’ to adapt to the urethral environment (abstract no. 98) |
| 12:15-12:30 | N. Weyand (USA). Co-culture serum bactericidal assay: an assay for investigating the contributions of membrane-associated or soluble complement inhibitors to immune invasion by N. gonorrhoeae during infection of epithelial cells (abstract no. 224) |
| 12:30-12:40 | K. Lidberg (Sweden). Host cell and lactobacilli-derived lactate promote meningococcal proliferation, biofilm formation, and microcolony dispersal rate (abstract no. 294) |
| 12:40-12:50 | A. van der Ende (Netherlands). Structure of the meningococcal capsular polysaccharide affects Neisseria meningitidis virulence in a zebrafish embryo infection model (abstract no. 265) |
| 12:50-14:20 | Lunch |
| 14:20-15:55 | Genomics and Gene Regulation |
| Chairs: TBC | |
| 14:20-14:35 | C. Genco (USA). Global gene co-expression network analysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and the human host during mucosal infection reveals coordinated interspecies responses (abstract no. 208) |
| 14:35-14:50 | M. Chenal (Canada). Discovery of a site-specific single-stranded nuclease (SsnA) involved in the virulence and competence of Neisseria meningitidis (abstract no. 330) |
| 15:05-15:20 | M. Kimani (UK). Analysis of associations between phase variation states and meningococcal disease and carriage traits using high throughput phenotypic testing (abstract no. 263) |
| 15:20-15:35 | E. Jurga (Canada). Using Metabolic pathway modelling to guide drug discovery in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (abstract no. 178) |
| 15:35-15:45 | A. Figueredo (USA). Defining the transcriptional response of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to glucose and L-lactate (abstract no. 107) |
| 15:45-15:55 | F. Veyrier (Canada). Evolution of multicellular longitudinally dividing oral cavity symbionts (Neisseriaceae) (abstract no. 55) |
| 15:55-16:25 | Coffee break |
| 16:30-18:30 | Poster session 1 |
| 08:45-10:05 | Meningococcal Vaccines and Impact |
| Chairs: TBC | |
| 08:45-09:00 | H. Marshall (Australia). 4CMenB vaccine impact on meningococcal B disease, nasopharyngeal carriage of Neisseria meningitidis and gonorrhoea following introduction of an infant and adolescent program in South Australia (abstract no. 199) |
| 09:00-09:15 | N. Bhat (USA). Antibody persistence and booster responses four years following infant vaccination with MenAfriVac in healthy Malian children (abstract no. 177) |
| 09:15-09:30 | K. Looker (UK). The epidemiological impact of adolescent 4CMenB vaccination on Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in England: a modelling study (abstract no. 37) |
| 09:30 -09:45 | P. Liberator (USA). Breadth of the human immune response to Trumenba: genotypic and phenotypic characterization of MenB strains that are susceptible in the hSBA (abstract no. 189) |
| 09:45-09:55 | C. Rodrigues (UK). Integrating genomic data for public health use: the traffic light system for protein-based meningococcal vaccines (abstract no. 111) |
| 09:55-10:05 | H. Marjuki (CDC, USA). Potential cross-protection of serogroup B meningococcal vaccine against meningococcal urethritis (abstract no. 31) |
| 10:05-10:40 | Coffee break |
| 10:40-12:35 | Epidemiology/Molecular Epidemiology |
| Chairs: TBC | |
| 10:40-11:20 | Plenary: Kanny Diallo (Cote d’Ivoire) and Odile Harrison (UK) |
| 11:20-11:35 | H. Musah (Ghana). Molecular characteristics and antimicrobial resistance of gonococcal isolates in Northern Ghana (abstract no. 253) |
| 11:35-11:50 | L. McNamara (USA). Meningococcal disease in people living with HIV reported through active surveillance in the United States, 2009-2019 (abstract no. 272) |
| 11:50-12:05 | M. Osnes (Norway). The sudden emergence of a Neisseria gonorrhoeae outbreak strain, Norway (abstract no. 52) |
| 12:05-12:15 | M. Jackson (USA). Does fitness variation explain the population structure of Neisseria meningitidis? (abstract no. 168) |
| 12:15-12:25 | L. Leong (Australia). Whole genome sequencing and 4CMenB predicted coverage of N. meningitidis carriage in senior school students in South Australia (abstract no. 126) |
| 12:25-12:35 | A. Retchless (USA). Using genomic diversity to inform outbreak strain identification in the USA (abstract no. 97) |
| 12:35-14:20 | (Lunch including ’Meet-the-Expert’) |
| 14:20-15:55 | Antibiotic Resistance, Diagnostics and Treatment |
| Chairs: TBC | |
| 14:20-14:35 | K. Fernandez (Switzerland). Target product profile for a new generation of in vitro diagnostic tests to identify multiple meningitis pathogens (abstract no. 156) |
| 14:35-14:50 | J. Shaughnessy (USA). Development of complement factor H based immunotherapeutic molecules in tobacco plants against multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae (abstract no. 186) |
| 15:05-15:20 | O. Ronveaux (Switzerland). Field evaluation of two new meningitis lateral flow rapid diagnostic tests in Niger and Burkina Faso (abstract no. 77) |
| 15:20-15:35 | A. van Dam (Netherlands). Emergence and spread of novel Neisseria gonorrhoeae clone MLST7827 with reduced susceptibility to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (abstract no. 151) |
| 15:35-15:45 | H. Lavender (UK). Novel antibody-peptide conjugates against multidrug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae (abstract no. 233) |
| 15:45-15:55 | S. Jacobsson (Sweden). Pharmacodynamic evaluation of zoliflodacin dosing, bacterial kill and resistance suppression in Neisseria gonorrhoeae using a dynamic hollow fiber infection model (abstract no. 298) |
| 15:55-16:25 | Coffee break |
| 16:45 - 18:45 | Poster session 2 |
| 07:30 | Registration |
| 08:30-10:05 | Surface Structures |
| Chairs: TBC | |
| 08:40-09:15 | Plenary: Alison Criss (USA) |
| 09:15-09:30 | L. Columbus (USA). Structure, dynamics, and function of Opa60 (abstract no. 56) |
| 09:30-09:45 | H. Seifert (USA). Mechanisms controlling pilin antigenic variation of the pathogenic Neisseria (abstract no. 281) |
| 09:45-10:00 | A. Waltmann (USA). Loss-of-function mutation in MtrCDE does not change the infectivity and fitness of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (abstract no. 187) |
| 10:00-10:35 | Coffee break |
| 10:35-11:55 | Physiology and Metabolism |
| Chairs: TBC | |
| 10:35-10:50 | G. Binepal (Canada). Revealing a central role for the cylindrical protease, Clp, in meningococcal colonization and disease (abstract no. 236) |
| 10:50-11:05 | A. Potter (USA). Dinner date: Metabolic interaction between Neisseria gonorrhoeae and neutrophils (abstract no. 10) |
| 11:05-11:20 | J. Dillard (USA). Wisc M YnhG acts as a transpeptidase to create Dap-Dap crosslinks in the gonococcal cell wall (abstract no. 164) |
| 11:20-11:35 | A. Sikora (USA). Neisseria gonorrhoeae vaccine candidate Slam2 influences hemoglobin metabolism (abstract no. 93) |
| 11:35-11:45 | E. Semchenko (Australia). The multifunctional role of the gonococcal neisserial heparin binding Antigen (NHBA) in virulence (abstract no. 242) |
| 11:45-11:55 | T. Ray (USA). Role of the outer membrane transporters TdfH and TdfJ in productive infection of human ectocervical cells by N. gonorrhoeae (abstract no. 73) |
| 12:00-17:00 | Afternoon free/social program |
| 07:30 | Registration |
| 08:30-09:50 | Molecular & Cellular Biology |
| Chairs: TBC | |
| 08:30-08:45 | S. Ivanov (USA). Subversion of the host actin cytoskeleton facilitates Neisseria gonorrhoeae colonization and invasion of human macrophages (abstract no. 181) |
| 08:45-09:00 | J. Hicks (New Zealand). Can the gonococcus synthesis cysteine? Investigation of sulfurtransferase and cysteine synthesis enzymes as potential therapeutic targets (abstract no. 17) |
| 09:00-09:15 | W. Geslewitz (USA). Development and implementation of an inducible Type I-C CRISPR-Interference System in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (abstract no. 284) |
| 09:15-09:30 | S. Gray-Owen (Canada). A pathogenic link between Neisseria meningitidis and IgA nephropathy (abstract no. 232) |
| 09:30-09:40 | D. Mueller (Germany). Deciphering the role of the CRISPR/Cas system in Neisseria meningitidis in host cell adhesion (abstract no. 166) |
| 09:40-09:50 | E. Rodriguez (USA). Role of gonococcal ispD in the meningococcal urethral clade US_NmUC (abstract no. 328) |
| 09:50-10:20 | Coffee break |
| 10:20-12:00 | Gonococcal Vaccines |
| Chairs: TBC | |
| 10:20-10:50 | Plenary: Kate Seib (Australia) |
| 10:50-11:05 | E. Islam (Canada). Evaluation of parenterally delivered vaccine adjuvant formulations in mediating mucosal protection against pathogenic Neisseria (abstract no. 238) |
| 11:05-11:20 | A. Jerse (USA). The cross-protective efficacy of the serogroup B meningococcal 4CMenB vaccine against experimental gonococcal infection is less pronounced in Chlamydia-infected mice (abstract no. 334) |
| 11:20-11:35 | C. MacLennan (UK). GonoVac, a candidate parenteral NOMV gonococcal vaccine that clears gonococci faster than Bexsero in the mouse vaginal infection model (abstract no. 214) |
| 11:35-11:50 | P. Massari (USA). Discovery and immune characterization of new N. gonorrhoeae vaccine antigens expressed during natural mucosal infection (abstract no. 115) |
| 11:50-12:00 | J. Fegan (Canada). Evaluating vaccine-mediated protection against targets that overcome nutritional immunity in mouse models of gonococcal colonization (abstract no. 211) |
| 12:00-13:30 | Lunch including ‘Meet-the-Expert’ |
| 13:30-15:05 | Antibiotic Resistance, Diagnostics and Treatment |
| Chairs: TBC | |
| 13:30-13:50 | S. Meiring (South Africa). Neisseria in South Africa: an update (abstract no. 130) |
| 13:50-14:05 | J. Melendez (USA). Molecular epidemiology and phylogeny of high-level azithromycin resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (abstract no. 237) |
| 14:05-14:20 | R. Kant (India). In silico Identification of novel drug targets in Neisseria gonorrhoeae by using homology modelling, drug docking studies of a candidate enzyme MurI: Computational approach to combat antimicrobial resistance (abstract no. 3) |
| 14:20-14:35 | S. Palace (USA). RNA polymerase mutations cause cephalosporin resistance in clinical Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates (abstract no. 124) |
| 14:35-14:45 | A. Maina (Kenya). Symptomatic approach to Neisseria gonorrhoeae management performs better in men than women: a cross-sectional study in Nairobi, Kenya (abstract no. 60) |
| 14:45-14:55 | A. Iradukundo Mahoro (Rwanda). Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from male patients attending Biryogo Health Centre in Kigali, Rwanda (abstract no. 249) |
| 14:55-15:05 | S. Peters (Germany). Click-Correlative light electron microscopy for imaging and tracking of functionalized antibacterial sphingolipids in Neisseria meningitidis (abstract no. 63) |
| 15:05-15:30 | Coffee break |
| 15:30-17:00 | Meningococcal Vaccines and Impact |
| Chairs: TBC | |
| 15:30-15:45 | F. Bidmos (UK). Reverse Vaccinology 2.0 approach to meningococcal vaccine antigen discovery (abstract no. 171) |
| 15:45-16:00 | I. Delany (Italy). Interrogation of Human monoclonal antibodies induced by Bexsero to identify protective antigens contained in the OMV component (abstract no. 204) |
| 16:00-16:15 | J. Carr (UK). Impact of the UK quadrivalent MenACWY vaccination programme on oropharyngeal carriage of meningococci in adolescents aged 16-19 years (abstract no. 203) |
| 16:15-16:30 | O. Sall (Sweden). Predicted strain coverage for Bexsero and Trumenba vaccines among invasive meningococcal isolates in Sweden, 2014-2018 (abstract no. 5) |
| 16:30-16:40 | E. Currie (Canada). Protection against Neisseria meningitidis nasal colonization is mediated by antibody dependent opsonophagocytosis (abstract no. 215) |
| 16:40-16:50 | S. Ladhani (UK). The Impact of the meningococcal B vaccine, 4CMenB, on group W disease in England (abstract no. 134) |
| 16:50-17:00 | M. Ohm (Netherlands). Protection against invasive meningococcal disease and vaccination policy in the Netherlands (abstract no. 299) |
| 18:30 - late | Gala dinner |
| 07:30 | Registration |
| 09:00-10:35 | Antibiotic Resistance, Diagnostics and Treatment |
| Chairs: TBC | |
| 09:00-09:30 | Plenary: Rob Nicholas (USA) |
| 09:30-09:45 | R. Howie (USA). Antimicrobial resistance in N. meningitidis serogroup Y— United States, 2019-present (abstract no. 266) |
| 09:45-10:00 | S. Ram (USA). DNA-encoded anti-lipooligosaccharide monoclonal antibody engineered to enhance complement activation as a vaccination strategy against gonorrhoea (abstract no. 145) |
| 10:00-10:15 | A. Le Van (USA). The in vivo fitness defect conferred by a commonly isolated fluoroquinolone resistance-conferring parC mutation is restored by the selection of compensatory mutations during experimental murine infection (abstract no. 322) |
| 10:15-10:25 | M. Chen (China). Decreased susceptibility of meningococcus to penicillin in Shanghai, China during 1965 and 2019 (abstract no. 15) |
| 10:25-10:35 | S. Clark (UK). An investigation into rifampicin hetero-resistance among invasive meningococci in the UK (abstract no. 132) |
| 10:35-11:05 | Coffee break |
| 11:05-12:10 | Host Defence |
| Chairs: TBC | |
| 11:05-11:20 | S. Dhital (Australia). Role of Neisseria gonorrhoeae secreted outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) in immune modulation (abstract no. 197) |
| 11:20-11:35 | L. Werner (USA). Human serum suppression of neutrophil anti-gonococcal activity (abstract no. 9) |
| 11:35-11:50 | S. Xu (Canada). Decidualization of the endometrium as sequelae caused by gonorrhea-induced uterine inflammation (abstract no. 89) |
| 11:50-12:00 | D. Golenbock (USA). USA estrogen-induced interferon-epsilon expressed in the female genital tract allows N. gonorrhoeae to evade innate immune clearance (abstract no. 327) |
| 12:00-12:10 | A. Dale (UK). The commensal Neisseria lactamica induces cross-reactive human B cell responses against the pathogen Neisseria meningitidis (abstract no. 148) |
| 12:10-12:25 | Closing and announcement of next meeting (IPNC 2023) |
COVID-19
After careful consideration, and a keen interest for an in-person meeting in South Africa, it is with regret that we are forced to postpone this meeting yet again. Current COVID-19 regulations in South Africa regarding mass gatherings prohibit the hosting of an in-person meeting at this time.
- New dates for IPNC South Africa are 9-14 October 2022.
- Abstracts may remain in the system or be withdrawn.
- Please communicate with Scatterlings regarding hotel booking refunds or rollover of bookings to 2022, or if you have any other queries.
- The Boston IPNC meeting will proceed as planned (from 23-30 September 2023 at the Boston Park Plaza, Massachusetts, USA).
- We will work together with Boston to plan a complementary scientific program for both meetings.
- We apologise for any inconvenience – please bear with us as we navigate through these uncertain times.