Clonal complex designation

Sequence types are grouped into clonal complexes by their similarity to a central allelic profile (genotype). These central genotypes are identified by a number of heuristic means, including BURST and split decomposition, along with feedback from public health laboratories and epidemiologists.

For the Neisseria database, once a central genotype has been identified, clonal complexes are defined as including any ST that matches the central genotype at four or more loci unless it more closely matches another central genotype.

STs are assigned to clonal complexes automatically by a Perl script that runs against the database each evening.

Currently defined complexes