Global epidemiology of the factor H binding protein in meningococcal serogroup B invasive isolates: a targeted literature review
5 affiliations
- 1Pfizer, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
- 2RTI Health Solutions, Durham, NC, United States
- 3RTI Health Solutions, Barcelona, Spain
- 4Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
- 5Global Vaccine Medical Affairs, Pfizer Ltd., Tadworth, United Kingdom
Abstract
Introduction: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a relatively rare but clinically serious infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, with meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) being one of the most common causes. Both of the currently available MenB vaccines contain factor H binding protein (fHbp), which has high antigenic variability; thus, it is important to monitor MenB-fHbp epidemiology. This targeted literature review aimed to assess the global prevalence and diversity of fHbp in MenB isolates over time.
Methods: A search of PubMed was conducted in June 2025 to identify studies reporting on MenB-fHbp characterization, without any search limits. Data were extracted and confirmed through independent review. Nomenclature was unified using PubMLST, and results were summarized descriptively.
Results: Of 1,354 identified studies, 52 were selected for inclusion, published between 2009 and 2025, representing 34 countries across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. MenB-fHbp subfamily A variants were typically dominant in Africa, Asia, and South America, while MenB-fHbp subfamily B variants were typically dominant in Australia, Europe, and North America. Prevalent fHbp peptides in MenB isolates varied widely across countries and regions and within countries over time, including a multitude of less common peptides.
Conclusion: The studies included in this review demonstrate the global diversity of fHbp in MenB isolates, highlighting the importance of continued surveillance and the need for vaccines that provide broad fHbp coverage.
Related
- Hypervirulent serogroup W meningococcal strain belonging to the ST-11 clonal complex is associated with higher case fatality rates: Nationwide cohort study of invasive meningococcal disease caused by serogroup W in England from 2010-2019
- Neisseria meningitidis serogroup X polysaccharide as a qualified antigen for multivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines
- Fulminant serogroup B meningococcemia in an adolescent vaccinated against serogroups A and C: highlighting the serogroup B vaccination gap in China-a case report and literature review.
- Clinical factors associated with septic shock in pediatric invasive meningococcal disease: a retrospective study from two tertiary hospitals in Chile, 2009–2025
- Genomic epidemiology of multidrug-resistant and non-multidrug-resistant clinical Salmonella enterica isolates in Guangdong, China
BibTeX
@article{iantomasi2026global,
title = {{Global epidemiology of the factor H binding protein in meningococcal serogroup B invasive isolates: a targeted literature review}},
author = {Raffaella Iantomasi and Lacey Lopez and Joan Forns and Sarah Rose Slate and Jamie Findlow},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1937472},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1937472},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Global epidemiology of the factor H binding protein in meningococcal serogroup B invasive isolates: a targeted literature review
AU - Raffaella Iantomasi
AU - Lacey Lopez
AU - Joan Forns
AU - Sarah Rose Slate
AU - Jamie Findlow
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1937472
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1937472
AB - Introduction: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a relatively rare but clinically serious infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, with meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) being one of the most common causes. Both of the currently available MenB vaccines contain factor H binding protein (fHbp), which has high antigenic variability; thus, it is important to monitor MenB-fHbp epidemiology. This targeted literature review aimed to assess the global prevalence and diversity of fHbp in MenB isolates over time. Methods: A search of PubMed was conducted in June 2025 to identify studies reporting on MenB-fHbp characterization, without any search limits. Data were extracted and confirmed through independent review. Nomenclature was unified using PubMLST, and results were summarized descriptively. Results: Of 1,354 identified studies, 52 were selected for inclusion, published between 2009 and 2025, representing 34 countries across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. MenB-fHbp subfamily A variants were typically dominant in Africa, Asia, and South America, while MenB-fHbp subfamily B variants were typically dominant in Australia, Europe, and North America. Prevalent fHbp peptides in MenB isolates varied widely across countries and regions and within countries over time, including a multitude of less common peptides. Conclusion: The studies included in this review demonstrate the global diversity of fHbp in MenB isolates, highlighting the importance of continued surveillance and the need for vaccines that provide broad fHbp coverage.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -