| Population and epidemiological studies of the meningococcus will obtain an improved understanding of meningococcal disease. A community-wide electronic infrastructure will co-ordinate data collection and information dissemination, linking national reference laboratories with three centres, for epidemiology, sequence-based isolate characterisation, and isolate collection. The project will address specific scientific questions but will also enhance the existing infrastructure for the surveillance of meningococcal disease. Rigorous definitions of hyper invasive and hyper virulent meningococci will be established, the dynamics of predominant hyper invasive lineages in Europe elucidated, and the nature and spread of antibiotic resistant meningococci monitored. The project will create a context for the implementation of harmonised science-based public health and clinical interventions against meningococcal disease. |