A generic mechanism in Neisseria meningitidis for enhanced resistance against bactericidal antibodies.

The presence of serum bactericidal antibodies is a proven correlate of protection against systemic infection with the important human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis. We have identified three serogroup C N. meningitidis (MenC) isolates recovered from patients with invasive meningococcal disease that resist killing by bactericidal antibodies induced by the MenC conjugate vaccine.

[Evaluation of xylose galactosidase (XG) culture medium for the isolation of enteropathogens].

Introduction: The chromogenic medium, XG, was evaluated and compared to conventional media for the isolation of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica and Aeromonas spp.

Antigenic and/or phase variation of PorA protein in non-subtypable Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated in Spain.

The PorA protein is a potential candidate as a vaccine component against meningococcal disease. However, this protein experiences antigenic variation and is subject to phase variations to evade immune selective pressure. In this study, the mechanisms responsible for altered expression of the PorA protein were analysed in 50 non-subtypable strains isolated from patients with meningococcal disease in Spain.

Sequencing of Neisseria meningitidis penA gene: the key to success in defining penicillin G breakpoints.

Testing of susceptibility to penicillin G by E-test and sequencing of an internal fragment of the penA gene were done for 43 meningococcal strains. Those strains for which the MIC was >/=0.094 micro g/ml showed mosaic alleles, so 0.

Capsule switching among C:2b:P1.2,5 meningococcal epidemic strains after mass immunization campaign, Spain.

A mass immunization campaign for 18-month to 19-year-olds was undertaken in Spain in 1996-1997 because of an epidemic of serogroup C meningococcal disease associated with a C:2b:P1.2,5 strain belonging to the A4 lineage. Surveillance for the "capsule-switching" phenomenon producing B:2b:P1.