OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to utilize the multilocus sequence typing (MLST) technique to characterise @entity328 among clinical isolates in India. MLST was used to determine clonality, to establish genetic relatedness, to check for correlation between serotypes and sequence types (STs) and its relevance associated with antibiotic resistance. METHODS: Forty consecutive invasive @entity2260 isolates in @entity1 <5 years were characterised. Preliminary identification of serotype and antibiotic susceptible profile was followed with MLST technique to identify the STs of the isolates. STs were then analysed for clonality using an eBURST algorithm and genetic relatedness using Sequence Type Analysis and Recombinational Tests version 2 software. RESULTS: The most common ST was ST63. Among the forty isolates, we identified nine novel STs, six of which had known alleles but in new combinations, three of which had new alleles in their sequence profile. The new STs assigned were 8501-8509. One clonal complex was found among the 40 strains characterised. The most common serotypes in this study were serotype 19F, 14 and 5. Non-susceptibility to @entity114 and @entity2929 was observed in 2.5% and 30% of the isolates, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study shows a significant number of novel STs among the 40 isolates characterised (9/40, 22.5%), however, internationally recognised strains were also circulating in India, indicating, there could be greater geographical variation in @entity7706 in India. Molecular epidemiology data is essential to understand the population dynamics of @entity2260 in India before the introduction of pneumococcal vaccines in NIP in India.

Epidemiological characterisation of XXXX from India using multilocus sequence typing.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children'] @entity7706 :: ('MESH:D011008', 'Disease') :: ['pneumococcal STs'] @entity114 :: ('MESH:D010406', 'Chemical') :: ['penicillin'] @entity2260 :: ('2104', 'Species') :: ['S. pneumoniae'] @entity2929 :: ('MESH:D004917', 'Chemical') :: ['erythromycin'] @entity328 :: ('1313', 'Species') :: ['Streptococcus pneumoniae']
@entity328 :: (1313,Species) :: ['Streptococcus pneumoniae']
