Analysis of the phenotypic traits of some proteins of serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis strains

Objective This study was conducted to analyze the distribution characteristics of the serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated during the epidemic outbreaks between 2003 and 2005 in China．Methods The electrophoresis patterns of sixty-six serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated and 2 standard strains were obtained by the two-dimensional electrophoresis，and the analysis was made on the phenotypes of outer membrane proteins and sucD protein in combination of the results from the mass spectrometry．Results 9 types were developed depending on the variation of outer membrane proteins and sucD spot pattern in 2-DE maps．The spot patterns showed high similarities in strains isolated from Anhui Province．But were more diverse in strains isolated from other places．Conclusion One predominant strain type has developed in Anhui Province，but has not disseminated to all the other places．Detecting the distribution and transition of the strain types may be of importance in the cognition of the epidemic characteristics of Neisseria meningitides and in the control and prevention of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis in the future．