You have full text access to this OnlineOpen article

Molecular typing of meningococci: recommendations for target choice and nomenclature

  1. Keith A. Jolley,
  2. Carina Brehony,
  3. Martin C.J. Maiden

Article first published online: 13 DEC 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2006.00057.x

Issue

FEMS Microbiology Reviews

FEMS Microbiology Reviews

Volume 31, Issue 1, pages 89–96, January 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Jolley, K. A., Brehony, C. and Maiden, M. C. (2007), Molecular typing of meningococci: recommendations for target choice and nomenclature. FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 31: 89–96. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2006.00057.x

Author Information

  1. The Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research and Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

*Correspondence: Martin C.J. Maiden, The Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research and Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3SY, UK. Tel.: +44 1865 281537; fax: +44 1865 281275; e-mail: martin.maiden@zoo.ox.ac.uk

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 13 DEC 2006
  2. Article first published online: 13 DEC 2006
  3. Received 23 June 2006; revised 6 November 2006; accepted 16 November 2006.First published online 13 December 2006.

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (110K)

Keywords:

  • diagnosis;
  • serogroup;
  • capsule;
  • serotype;
  • porin proteins;
  • nucleotide sequence

Abstract

The diversity and dynamics of Neisseria meningitidis populations generate a requirement for high resolution, comprehensive, and portable typing schemes for meningococcal disease surveillance. Molecular approaches, specifically DNA amplification and sequencing, are the methods of choice for various reasons, including: their generic nature and portability, comprehensive coverage, and ready implementation to culture negative clinical specimens. The following target genes are recommended: (1) the variable regions of the antigen-encoding genes porA and fetA and, if additional resolution is required, the porB gene for rapid investigation of disease outbreaks and investigating the distribution of antigenic variants; (2) the seven multilocus sequence typing loci–these data are essential for the most effective national, and international management of meningococcal disease, as well as being invaluable in studies of meningococcal population biology and evolution. These targets have been employed extensively in reference laboratories throughout the world and validated protocols have been published. It is further recommended that a modified nomenclature be adopted of the form: serogroup: PorA type: FetA type: sequence type (clonal complex), thus: B: P1.19,15: F5-1: ST-33 (cc32).

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (110K)