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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
10:03
Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery
Published on: November 5, 2019
[Meningococci throughout the world : Phenotypic and molecular markers.]
1Centre National de Référence des Méningocoques et Neisseria apparentées, Unité des Neisseria, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du Docteur Roux - F-75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
Medecine Et Maladies Infectieuses
|April 1, 1996
Summary
Meningococcal disease outbreaks are tracked using antigenic formulas and Multilocus Enzyme Electrophoresis (MLEE). MLEE is crucial for understanding global Neisseria meningitidis pandemics and genetic variability.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Epidemiology
- Molecular Biology
Context:
- Neisseria meningitidis identification relies on antigenic markers like serogroups and outer membrane proteins (OMPs).
- Antigenic formulas (AF) combine serogroups, serotypes, subtypes, and immunotypes for strain characterization.
- Multilocus Enzyme Electrophoresis (MLEE) provides a global standard for meningococcal strain typing, defining Electrophoretic Types (ETs).
Purpose:
- To review the historical and current markers used for Neisseria meningitidis strain characterization.
- To highlight the significance of Electrophoretic Types (ETs) in understanding meningococcal epidemiology.
- To discuss the role of MLEE in defining major Neisseria meningitidis pandemics.
Summary:
- Early meningococcal typing used serogroups and OMPs, later evolving to antigenic formulas (AF).
- Multilocus Enzyme Electrophoresis (MLEE) emerged as a key global marker, defining specific Electrophoretic Types (ETs) like ET-5 and ET-37.
- Two major Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A pandemics were primarily defined and understood through MLEE, with significant global impact.
Impact:
- MLEE has been instrumental in tracking global pandemics of meningococcal disease, aiding in public health responses.
- Molecular epidemiology markers like pulsotypes and ribotypes further reveal genetic diversity within Neisseria meningitidis strains.
- Understanding these markers is crucial for effective disease surveillance and control strategies worldwide.
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