Downregulated genes in ΔqseC included hrpA, lptA, metF, recA, dnaJ and dnaK, tolA, pilW, znuA, fur, and groL., etc. HrpA plays a crucial role in meningococcal infection and neuronal cell transport, regulating the apoptosis-pyroptosis balance (Talà et al., 2022). Here, FURIN is linked to meningococcal infection.