title: Genomic Analysis of Serogroup Y Neisseria meningitidis Isolates Reveals Extensive Similarities Between Carriage-Associated and Disease-Associated Organisms.
abstract: Neisseria meningitidis is a frequent colonizer of the human nasopharynx, with asymptomatic carriage providing the reservoir for invasive, disease-causing strains. Serogroup Y (MenY) strains are a major cause of meningococcal disease. High-resolution genetic analyses of carriage and disease isolates can establish epidemiological relationships and identify potential virulence factors.
  
  
  
  Whole-genome sequence data were obtained for 99 MenY carriage isolates recovered in the United Kingdom during 1997-2010. Sequences were compared to those of 73 MenY invasive isolates recovered during 2010-2011, using a gene-by-gene approach.
  
  
  
  Comparisons across 1605 core genes resolved 91% of isolates into one of 8 clusters containing closely related disease and carriage isolates. Six clusters contained carried meningococci isolated during 1997-2001, suggesting temporal stability. One cluster of isolates, predominately sharing the designation Y: P1.5-1,10-1: F4-1: ST-1655 (cc23), was resolved into one subcluster with 86% carriage isolates and a second with 90% invasive isolates. These subclusters were defined by specific allelic differences in 5 core genes encoding glycerate kinase (glxK), valine-pyruvate transaminase (avtA), superoxide dismutase (sodB), and 2 hypothetical proteins.
  
  
  
  High-resolution genetic analyses detected long-term temporal stability and temporally overlapping carriage and disease populations for MenY clones but also evidence of a disease-associated clone.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham.
authors.forename: Neil J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Oldfield
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Oxford.
authors.forename: Odile B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Bayliss
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Oxford.
authors.forename: Martin C J
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Maiden
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham.
authors.forename: Dlawer A A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ala'Aldeen
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham.
authors.forename: David P J
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D038581:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup Y / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial
keywords: Neisseria meningitidis; carriage; epidemiology; serogroup Y; whole-genome sequencing