Genome Sequencing and Interrogation of Genome Databases: A Guide to Neisseria meningitidis Genomics.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) has revolutionized molecular microbiology, allowing the population biology of bacterial pathogens to be examined with greater accuracy and detail. The study of Neisseria meningitidis isolates, in particular, has benefitted from the availability of WGS data allowing outbreak cases, hyper-invasive lineages, molecular epidemiology, and vaccine coverage to be determined. Here, we describe a suite of protocols for the optimum recovery and analysis of WGS data, including a brief overview of methods for N. meningitidis DNA extraction, sequencing, and analysis. Downstream analysis tools are described including a step-by-step guide to the use of PubMLST.org/neisseria . This freely accessible website provides a resource for the Neisseria community allowing the diversity of the meningococcal population to be extracted and exploited.