Diversity and prevalence of PorA types in Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B in the United States, 1992-1998

J Infect Dis. 2000 Oct;182(4):1169-76. doi: 10.1086/315833. Epub 2000 Sep 8.

Abstract

Two hundred eighty-one sporadic Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B isolates, collected through active laboratory-based surveillance, were selected to be analyzed by PorA variable region (VR) typing to determine the prevalence of PorA types in the United States. A substantial number of distinct VR types were identified, 31 in VR1 and 41 in VR2. A total of 73 different PorA types were found, and 76. 7% of these types comprise nonprototype sequences in VR1, VR2, or both. The most prevalent PorA types were P1.7,16-20 (previously P1.7, 16i), P1.22,14, P1.22-1,14 (previously P1.22a,14), P1.7,16, P1.7-1,1 (previously P1.7d,1), P1.19,15, and P1.17,16-3 (previously P1.B,16d). No correlation was observed between the PorA types and geographic origin of the isolates. These data may aid in the design of an efficacious outer membrane protein-based vaccine by identifying the most appropriate PorA types for vaccine formulation. Studies are needed to fully evaluate the extent of cross-protection in humans among the variants and prototypes in each PorA VR family.

MeSH terms

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Humans
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / epidemiology
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / microbiology*
  • Neisseria meningitidis / classification*
  • Neisseria meningitidis / genetics
  • Neisseria meningitidis / isolation & purification
  • Population Surveillance
  • Porins / genetics*
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Porins