title: Antigenic diversity of Neisseria meningitidis isolated in Taiwan between 1995 and 2002.
abstract: The geographic distribution of N. meningitidis is diverse. Information on the antigenic variation of N. meningitidis is important for the development of an outer membrane protein-based vaccine. As a first step towards vaccine development, serological typing was performed to determine the antigenic properties of 127 invasive N. meningitidis isolates collected in Taiwan between 1995 and 2002. With 31.5% non-serotypeable and 32.3% non-serosubtypeable, the 127 isolates fell into 51 phenotypes, with W135:NT:P1.5,2:L3,7,9, Y:14P1.5,2, and B:1:NST:L3,7,9 being the 3 most prevalent. Among the 37 serogroup B isolates, 15 serosubtypes were found, with P1.5,2 and P1.12,13 being the most prevalent. The high diversity of Por A among serogroup B isolates circulating in Taiwan poses a great challenge for the development of a PorA-based vaccine. Because 85% of the serogroup B isolates had the L3,7,9 immunotype, inclusion of L3,7,9 lipooligosaccharides in a PorA-based vaccine may be a promising approach. In addition, based on the phenotypic characterization, we suggest that both serogroup B and W135 isolates were endemic and that serogroup A, C, and Y isolates were imported, which may reflect increased international travel.
authors.affiliation: From the Institute of Molecular Biology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan. cyyang@dragon.nchu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Chiou-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yeong-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Lan-Shiang
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yen-Liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Yi-Lun
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Cheng-Hsiung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010641:Phenotype; D012703:Serotyping / Q000379:methods; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology