title: Molecular epidemiology of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B in Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B has been predominant in Brazil, but no broadly effective vaccine is available to prevent endemic meningococcal disease. To understand genetic diversity among serogroup B strains in Brazil, we selected a nationally representative sample of clinical disease isolates from 2004, and a temporally representative sample for the state of São Paulo (1988-2006) for study (n = 372).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and sequence analysis of five outer membrane protein (OMP) genes, including novel vaccine targets fHbp and nadA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2004, strain B:4:P1.15,19 clonal complex ST-32/ET-5 (cc32) predominated throughout Brazil; regional variation in MLST sequence type (ST), fetA, and porB was significant but diversity was limited for nadA and fHbp. Between 1988 and 1996, the São Paulo isolates shifted from clonal complex ST-41/44/Lineage 3 (cc41/44) to cc32. OMP variation was associated with but not predicted by cc or ST. Overall, fHbp variant 1/subfamily B was present in 80% of isolates and showed little diversity. The majority of nadA were similar to reference allele 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A predominant serogroup B lineage has circulated in Brazil for over a decade with significant regional and temporal diversity in ST, fetA, and porB, but not in nadA and fHbp.
authors.affiliation: National Quality Control Institute (INCQS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivano
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de Filippis
authors.forename: Ana Paula S
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: de Lemos
authors.forename: Jessica B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hostetler
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wollenberg
authors.forename: Claudio T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Sacchi
authors.forename: Julie C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dunning Hotopp
authors.forename: Lee H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Margaret C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bash
authors.forename: D Rebecca
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Prevots
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001483:Base Sequence; D044822:Biodiversity; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing; D038541:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010802:Phylogeny; D013997:Time Factors