The case of a new sequence type 7 serogroup X Neisseria meningitidis infection in China: may capsular switching change serogroup profile?

Neisseria meningitidis remains the leading cause of bacterial meningitis and septicemia worldwide. We describe a case of invasive meningococcal infection caused by serogroup X N. meningitidis with a unique sequence type (ST-7) in China. The strain may have arisen from locally prevalent hypervirulent serogroup A clones by capsular switching events.