title: Capsular switching in invasive Neisseria meningitidis, Brazil(1).
abstract: During the 1990s, an epidemic of B:4 Neisseria meningitidis infections affected Brazil. Subsequent increase in C:4 disease suggested B → C capsular switching. This study identified B → C switches within the sequence type 32 complex. Substantial disease related to capsular switching emphasizes the need for surveillance of circulating meningococcal strains to optimize disease control.
authors: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro School of Medicine, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. tmarta@cives.ufrj.br
authors: Terezinha M P P
authors: TM
authors: Castiñeiras
authors: David E
authors: DE
authors: Barroso
authors: Jane W
authors: JW
authors: Marsh
authors: Mary M
authors: MM
authors: Tulenko
authors: Mary G
authors: MG
authors: Krauland
authors: Maria C
authors: MC
authors: Rebelo
authors: Lee H
authors: LH
authors: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000940:Antigenic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000235:genetics*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D058872:Epidemics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing; D038541:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D038542:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012703:Serotyping; D055815:Young Adult