title: Generation of capsule-deficient Neisseria meningitidis strains by homologous recombination.
abstract: Capsule-deficient mutants of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B strain B1940 were constructed by allelic replacement using the plasmids pMF120 and pMF121, which contain the flanking regions of the gene locus for the biosynthesis pathway of the group B meningococcal capsular polysaccharide. Southern blot analysis of chromosomal DNA of the capsule-deficient meningococcal strains confirmed the generation of large deletions in the chromosomal cps gene complex. The same strategy proved useful in constructing meningococcal strains with capsular types A, C, W135, Y and Z.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, FRG.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frosch
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Glenn-Calvo
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012703:Serotyping; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial