Presence of multiple copies of capsulation loci in invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) strains in Japan before introduction of the Hib conjugate vaccine.
Despite the effectiveness of the Hib vaccine, multiple amplification of the capb locus contributes to vaccine failure. However, there has been no report on the effect of Hib locus amplification in Japan. We examined 24 Hib strains from Japanese children with invasive diseases due to Hib. Although all strains showed the same capb sequence, Southern blot analysis showed that four strains (16.7%) harbored multiple copies (more than two) of the capb locus. Careful analysis of the locus in circulating Hib strains is necessary now that the Hib vaccine has been introduced into Japan.
Ueno
Kentaro
K
Department of Pediatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan.
Nishi
Junichiro
J
Imuta
Naoko
N
Tokuda
Koichi
K
Kawano
Yoshifumi
Y
D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019741:Haemophilus influenzae type b / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate; D037521:Virulence Factors