title: Characterization of Neisseria meningitidis isolates collected from 1974 to 2003 in Japan by multilocus sequence typing.
abstract: Analysis of 182 Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated over the past 30 years in Japan by serogroup typing and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed. The serogroups of the 182 Japanese isolates were B (103 isolates), Y (39), W135 (1) and non-groupable (39). By MLST analysis, 65 different sequence types (ST) were identified, 42 of which were not found in the MLST database as of January 2004 and seemed to be unique to Japan. Statistical analysis of the MLST results revealed that, although the Japanese isolates seemed to be genetically divergent, they were classified into six major clonal complexes and other minor complexes. Among these isolates, well-documented ST complexes found worldwide were present, such as ST-23 complex (49 isolates), ST-44 complex (41 isolates) and ST-32 complex (8 isolates). On the other hand, a new clonal complex designated ST-2046 complex (28 isolates), which has not been identified in other countries, was also found, suggesting that this clone was indigenous to Japan. Taken together, it was speculated that meningococcal isolates in Japan comprised heterogeneous clones, which were derived both from clones identified in other countries and clones unique to Japan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan 2Department of Microbiology, Kanagawa Prefectural Public Health Laboratory, Chigasaki, Japan 3Department of Bacteriology, Ehime Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environmental Science, Matsuyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan 2Department of Microbiology, Kanagawa Prefectural Public Health Laboratory, Chigasaki, Japan 3Department of Bacteriology, Ehime Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environmental Science, Matsuyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuroki
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan 2Department of Microbiology, Kanagawa Prefectural Public Health Laboratory, Chigasaki, Japan 3Department of Bacteriology, Ehime Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environmental Science, Matsuyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan 2Department of Microbiology, Kanagawa Prefectural Public Health Laboratory, Chigasaki, Japan 3Department of Bacteriology, Ehime Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environmental Science, Matsuyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan 2Department of Microbiology, Kanagawa Prefectural Public Health Laboratory, Chigasaki, Japan 3Department of Bacteriology, Ehime Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environmental Science, Matsuyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inouye
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan 2Department of Microbiology, Kanagawa Prefectural Public Health Laboratory, Chigasaki, Japan 3Department of Bacteriology, Ehime Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environmental Science, Matsuyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamai
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan 2Department of Microbiology, Kanagawa Prefectural Public Health Laboratory, Chigasaki, Japan 3Department of Bacteriology, Ehime Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environmental Science, Matsuyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology / Q000379:methods*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D012703:Serotyping; D013401:Sugar Alcohol Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D013401:Sugar Alcohol Dehydrogenases; C095946:galactitol 2-dehydrogenase