Microevolution through DNA exchange among strains of Neisseria meningitidis isolated during an outbreak in the Czech Republic
Language English Country France Media print
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PubMed
10376489
DOI
10.1016/s0923-2508(99)80052-7
PII: S0923250899800527
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- MeSH
- Alleles MeSH
- DNA, Bacterial chemistry MeSH
- Disease Outbreaks MeSH
- Genetic Variation MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Meningitis, Meningococcal genetics microbiology MeSH
- Evolution, Molecular MeSH
- Neisseria meningitidis genetics MeSH
- Polymerase Chain Reaction MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic epidemiology MeSH
- Names of Substances
- DNA, Bacterial MeSH
Neisseria meningitidis is a highly variable bacterium. Indeed, N. meningitidis is naturally competent for transformation, and horizontal DNA exchange between strains may lead to mosaic genetic loci in N. meningitidis. We studied such an exchange in nature during an epidemic provoked by N. meningitidis. This epidemic started in the Czech Republic in 1993 and the original epidemic clone was shown to have the antigenic formula (serogroup:serotype:serosubtype) C:2a:P1.2,5. We analysed 145 meningococcal strains isolated in the Czech Republic between 1993 and 1997 using serological and genetic typing methods (multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and polymorphism of pilA and pilD genes). This analysis showed that genetic exchange between epidemic and endemic strains had occurred. Exchanges involved mostly surface-exposed structures such as the capsule, giving rise to new meningococcal variants. The expansion of these variants should be kept under close surveillance.
References provided by Crossref.org
Carried meningococci in the Czech Republic: a diverse recombining population
