Antigenic and epidemiologic properties of the ET-37 complex of Neisseria meningitidis.
A special collection of 336 Neisseria meningitidis strains was established that spanned the genetic variability, as defined by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, of the ET-37 complex (228 strains isolated in different continents between the 1960s and the 1980s) and of other serogroup C meningococci (108 strains). Of the strains in the ET-37 complex, 90% were serogroup C and 10% were serogroup B. Most ET-37 complex strains were serotype 2a and serosubtype P1.5,2 or P1.5,y; most expressed class IIb pilin. Twenty-six Opa proteins differing in electrophoretic mobility or reactivity with monoclonal antibodies were variably expressed by different members of the ET-37 complex, although only four opa genes were detected in individual strains. Despite this overall diversity, most isolates from any one outbreak were fairly homogeneous.
Max-Planck Institut für Molekulare Genetik, Berlin, Germany.
J F
JF
Wang
D A
DA
Caugant
G
G
Morelli
B
B
Koumaré
M
M
Achtman
D000940:Antigenic Variation; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; C074517:opc protein, bacteria