RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Hotopp, Julie C. Dunning A1 Grifantini, Renata A1 Kumar, Nikhil A1 Tzeng, Yih Ling A1 Fouts, Derrick A1 Frigimelica, Elisabetta A1 Draghi, Monia A1 Giuliani, Marzia Monica A1 Rappuoli, Rino A1 Stephens, David S. A1 Grandi, Guido A1 Tettelin, HervéYR 2006 T1 Comparative genomics of Neisseria meningitidis: core genome, islands of horizontal transfer and pathogen-specific genes JF Microbiology, VO 152 IS 12 SP 3733 OP 3749 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.29261-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2080, AB To better understand Neisseria meningitidis genomes and virulence, microarray comparative genome hybridization (mCGH) data were collected from one Neisseria cinerea, two Neisseria lactamica, two Neisseria gonorrhoeae and 48 Neisseria meningitidis isolates. For N. meningitidis, these isolates are from diverse clonal complexes, invasive and carriage strains, and all major serogroups. The microarray platform represented N. meningitidis strains MC58, Z2491 and FAM18, and N. gonorrhoeae FA1090. By comparing hybridization data to genome sequences, the core N. meningitidis genome and insertions/deletions (e.g. capsule locus, type I secretion system) related to pathogenicity were identified, including further characterization of the capsule locus, bioinformatics analysis of a type I secretion system, and identification of some metabolic pathways associated with intracellular survival in pathogens. Hybridization data clustered meningococcal isolates from similar clonal complexes that were distinguished by the differential presence of six distinct islands of horizontal transfer. Several of these islands contained prophage or other mobile elements, including a novel prophage and a transposon carrying portions of a type I secretion system. Acquisition of some genetic islands appears to have occurred in multiple lineages, including transfer between N. lactamica and N. meningitidis. However, island acquisition occurs infrequently, such that the genomic-level relationship is not obscured within clonal complexes. The N. meningitidis genome is characterized by the horizontal acquisition of multiple genetic islands; the study of these islands reveals important sets of genes varying between isolates and likely to be related to pathogenicity., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/mic.0.29261-0