Sequencing of the porB gene: a step toward a true characterization of Neisseria meningitidis.
Variations in class 2/3 (PorB) proteins form the basis for meningococcal serotyping. Antibodies against these proteins are bactericidal, making serotyping results useful not only for epidemiological surveillance of meningococcal disease but also for identifying potential vaccine components. A total of 20 to 60% of meningococcal B and C isolates from any given population are nontypeable (NT) using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. To analyze the mechanisms responsible for the nonserotypeability characteristic in Neisseria meningitidis, we (i) established the nucleotide sequences of porB gene in 146 meningococcal strains (95 not recognized by the serotyping panel), (ii) identified 18 new allelic variants of the porB gene, (iii) correlated allelic variants with serotypes, (iv) suggest the nontypeability characteristic in those 95 NT strains, and (v) reject the possibility of variation in the levels of PorB expression.
Abad
R
R
Reference Laboratory for Neisseria, National Centre of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km2, 28220, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
Alcalá
B
B
Salcedo
C
C
Enríquez
R
R
Uría
M J
MJ
Diez
P
P
Vázquez
J A
JA
D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D018272:Porins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D018272:Porins; C057699:porin protein, Neisseria