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Genetic characterization of a new variant within the ET-37 complex of Neisseria meningitidis associated with outbreaks in various parts of the world

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2001

J. JELFS ,
R. MUNRO ,
F. E. ASHTON  and
D. A. CAUGANT
J. JELFS
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, South Western Area Pathology Service, Liverpool, NSW Australia, 2170 WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Meningococci, National Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Torshov, N-0403 Oslo, Norway
R. MUNRO
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, South Western Area Pathology Service, Liverpool, NSW Australia, 2170
F. E. ASHTON
Affiliation:
Bureau of Microbiology, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Ottawa, Canada
D. A. CAUGANT
Affiliation:
WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Meningococci, National Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Torshov, N-0403 Oslo, Norway
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Abstract

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A new variant within the electrophoretic type (ET)-37 complex of Neisseria meningitidis, ET-15, first detected in Canada in 1986, has been associated with severe clinical infections and high mortality rates in several European countries, Israel and Australia. To ascertain the genetic and epidemiological relationships of ET-15 strains from different geographical areas, 72 ET-15 isolates from 10 countries were compared to 13 isolates representing other clones of the ET-37 complex. The 85 strains were analysed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using 2 restriction endonucleases and Southern hybridization with 10 genetic markers. Four ET-15 strains and 4 other strains of the ET-37 complex were further examined using an additional restriction enzyme and a total of 18 genetic markers. PFGE fingerprints of the ET-15 strains were closely related. Strains within each country were even more closely related, suggesting single introductions of the clone. Physical mapping of genes in ET-15 and other strains of the ET-37 complex demonstrated that large genetic rearrangements of the genome have occurred in association with the appearance of the ET-15 variant.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 125 , Issue 2 , October 2000 , pp. 285 - 298
Copyright
© 2000 Cambridge University Press