title: Automated non-culture-based sequence typing of meningococci from body fluids.
abstract: In recent years, the polymerase chain reaction has been used for the non-culture diagnosis of meningococcal disease, and sequence-based typing takes this further by providing the full characterisation normally only available by culture. In this study, porA gene sequencing was used to perform non-culture-based sequence typing of Neisseria meningitidis strains direct from body fluids. Non-culture porA gene sequencing provided the serosubtype of the infecting organism, and proved to be a useful method as N. meningitidis was not isolated from any of the patients in this study. In conclusion, porA gene sequencing is a very useful tool for the non-culture characterisation of meningococci and provides important information for public health management of cases and contacts.
authors.affiliation: North Glasgow University Hospital NHS Trust, Department of Microbiology, Stobhill Hospital, UK. stuart.clarke@northglasgow.scot.nhs.uk
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Diggle
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D018272:Porins / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D018272:Porins; C057699:porin protein, Neisseria