Journal article

Global emm type distribution of group A streptococci: systematic review and implications for vaccine development

Andrew C Steer, Irwin Law, Laisiana Matatolu, Bernard W Beall, Jonathan R Carapetis

LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES | ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC | Published : 2009

Abstract

emm sequence typing is the most widely used method for defining group A streptococcal (GAS) strains, and has been applied to isolates in all regions of the world. We did a systematic review of the global distribution of GAS emm types. 102 articles and reports were included (38 081 isolates). Epidemiological data from high-income countries were predominant, with sparse data from low-income countries. The epidemiology of GAS disease in Africa and the Pacific region seems to be different from that in other regions, particularly high-income countries. In Africa and the Pacific, there were no dominant emm types, a higher diversity of emm types, and many of the common emm types in other parts of t..

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