Abstract
To characterize Streptococcus pneumoniae "serotype 6E," complete cps loci were sequenced. The capsular genes of "serotype 6E" isolates differed much from those of serotypes 6A and 6B. We identified 10 additional "serotype 6E" isolates, which are not confined to a restricted geographic locality. Most of these "serotype 6E" isolates belonged to sequence type 90 and its single-locus variants. The homogeneity of their genetic background and cps loci suggests a recent origin of the "serotype 6E" isolates.