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PorA types in Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B isolated in Argentina from 2001 to 2003: implications for the design of an outer membrane protein-based vaccine.

Sorhouet Pereira C, Regueira M, Mollerach M

Cátedra de Microbiología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junin 956, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Identification of Neisseria meningitidis PorA types remains important, as the PorA protein is a major immunogenic component of several meningococcal vaccines under development. In this study, 191 N. meningitidis serogroup B isolates collected in Argentina through active laboratory-based surveillance from 2001 to 2003 were serosubtyped. Nucleotide sequences of the porA variable region 1 (VR1) and VR2 regions were determined in 52 non-serosubtypeable isolates. A substantial number of distinct VR types were identified, and a new VR2 variant from the P1.16 family was described. This is the first report describing PorA types in N. meningitidis serogroup B isolates in Argentina. Furthermore, the wide diversity of subtypes detected by serosubtyping and genosubtyping reveals the difficulty in designing a useful outer-membrane vaccine applicable in this country. A possible mechanism responsible for altered PorA expression was analysed in two PorA types.

Published 21 February 2008 in J Med Microbiol, 57: 338-42.
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