title: Multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C in China.
abstract: This study characterized Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C strains in China in order to establish their genetic relatedness and describe the use of multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) to provide useful epidemiological information. A total of 215 N. meningitidis serogroup C strains, obtained from 2003 to 2012 in China, were characterized by MLVA with different published schemes as well as multilocus sequence typing. (i) Based on the MLVA scheme with a combination of five highly variable loci, 203 genotypes were identified; this level of discrimination supports its use for resolving closely related isolates. (ii) Based on a combination of ten low variable loci, clear phylogenetic relationships were established within sequence type complexes. In addition, there was evidence of microevolution of VNTR loci over the decade as strain lineages spread from Anhui to other provinces, the more distant the provinces from Anhui, the higher the genetic variation.
authors.affiliation: Jinan Municipal Centre for Disease Control and Prevention,Jinan City,Shandong Province,PR China.
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control,National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention,Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Beijing,PR China.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Jinan Municipal Centre for Disease Control and Prevention,Jinan City,Shandong Province,PR China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control,National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention,Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Beijing,PR China.
authors.forename: B Q
authors.initials: BQ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control,National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention,Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Beijing,PR China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control,National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention,Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Beijing,PR China.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Jinan Municipal Centre for Disease Control and Prevention,Jinan City,Shandong Province,PR China.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Jinan Municipal Centre for Disease Control and Prevention,Jinan City,Shandong Province,PR China.
authors.forename: A Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Jinan Municipal Centre for Disease Control and Prevention,Jinan City,Shandong Province,PR China.
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics,School of Public Health,Shandong University,Jinan City,Shandong Province,PR China.
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control,National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention,Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Beijing,PR China.
authors.forename: Z J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Shao
mesh_terms: D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology / Q000379:methods; D058889:Molecular Typing / Q000379:methods*; D038542:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
keywords: Bacterial typing; Neisseria meningitidis; meningococcus; molecular epidemiology; spread of disease