Microevolution and epidemic spread of serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis--a review.
An extensive and representative strain collection of serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis was established. These bacteria were obtained from different endemic and epidemic/pandemic sources and include strains from diseased patients and healthy carriers. The genetic relationships of the bacteria were defined by multi-locus enzyme electrophoresis and sequence polymorphisms of genetically variable antigens have been analyzed in closely-related groupings. The results are interpreted as reflecting a balance of recombination events, which disrupt clonal relationships, and sequential bottlenecks, which purify the bacterial population of genetic variants during epidemic spread.
Achtman
M
M
Max-Planck-Institut für molekulare Genetik, Berlin, Germany. achtman@mpimg-berlin-dahlem.mpg.de
D000483:Alleles; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D018272:Porins / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012703:Serotyping
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D018272:Porins; C057699:porin protein, Neisseria