Molecular typing of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A using the polymerase chain reaction and restriction endonuclease pattern analysis.

A new molecular typing method for identification and characterization of Neisseria meningitidis is reported. Chromosomal DNA from 20 well-documented meningococcal strains of serogroup A originating from France, Central African Republic, Sudan and Burkina Faso were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction. Primers designed in this study were located in the pilA/pilB locus which has been shown to be conserved in the genus Neisseria. The amplified fragments were subjected to restriction endonuclease analysis using three different enzymes, and the restriction endonuclease patterns obtained were compared. Clonal isolates clustered together in distinct restriction endonuclease patterns which are described in this study and coincided with electrotypes as determined by multi-locus enzyme electrophoresis. This DNA-based typing system for meningococci may be useful for epidemiological studies.