@entity3631 is a leading bacterial cause of @entity295 and @entity693 globally with dynamic strain distribution over time. Beginning with an @entity3082 among Hajj pilgrims in 2000, serogroup W (W) sequence type (ST) 11 emerged as a leading cause of @entity693 in the African ' @entity693 belt' and endemic cases in South America, Europe, Middle East and China. Previous genotyping studies were unable to reliably discriminate sporadic W ST-11 strains in circulation since 1970 from the Hajj outbreak strain (Hajj clone). It is also unclear what proportion of more recent W ST-11 disease clusters are caused by direct descendants of the Hajj clone. Whole genome sequences of 270 meningococcal strains isolated from @entity1 with invasive @entity7135 globally from 1970 to 2013 were compared using whole genome phylogenetic and major antigen-encoding gene sequence analyses. We found that all W ST-11 strains were descendants of an ancestral strain that had undergone unique capsular switching events. The Hajj clone and its descendants were distinct from other W ST-11 strains in that they shared a common antigen gene profile and had undergone recombination involving virulence genes encoding factor H binding protein, @entity842 reductase, and @entity3542 reductase. These data demonstrate that recent acquisition of a distinct antigen-encoding gene profile and variations in meningococcal virulence genes was associated with the emergence of the Hajj clone. Importantly, W ST-11 strains unrelated to the Hajj outbreak contribute a significant proportion of W ST-11 cases globally. This study helps illuminate genomic factors associated with @entity7135 emergence and evolution.

Genomic Epidemiology of Hypervirulent Serogroup W, ST-11 XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity295 :: ('MESH:D018805', 'Disease') :: ['sepsis'] @entity3082 :: ('MESH:D004671', 'Disease') :: ['epidemic'] @entity3542 :: ('CHEBI:16301', 'Chemical') :: ['nitrite'] @entity693 :: ('MESH:D008581', 'Disease') :: ['epidemic meningitis', 'meningitis'] @entity842 :: ('MESH:D009569', 'Chemical') :: ['nitric oxide'] @entity7135 :: ('MESH:D008589', 'Disease') :: ['meningococcal disease', 'meningococcal strain'] @entity3631 :: ('487', 'Species') :: ['Neisseria meningitidis']
@entity3631 :: (487,Species) :: ['Neisseria meningitidis']
