title: Direct application of variable number tandem repeats polymerase chain reaction in clinical samples obtained from patients with meningococcal disease.
abstract: A nested variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was developed for the direct typing of meningococcal PCR-positive clinical samples. The system was evaluated on a panel of 43 clinical samples and isolates positive for Neisseria meningitidis. The results revealed that VNTR-PCR can be used directly in clinical samples, allowing fine typing of N. meningitidis.
authors.affiliation: National Meningitis Reference Laboratory, National School of Public Health, 11522 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kesanopoulos
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tzanakaki
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sioumala
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kourea-Kremastinou
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013045:Species Specificity