Contents

235 Editor’s Choice September 2009. J. H. RICHARDUS

Editorial

236 IDEAL: in the footsteps of IMMLEP and THELEP. P. J. BRENNAN

Commentary

246 Molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium leprae: a solid beginning. B. G. HALL

250 Characterisation of Short tandem repeats for genotyping Mycobacterium leprae. T. GILLIS, V. VISSA, M. MATSUOKA, S. YOUNG, J. H. RICHARDUS, R. TRUMAN, B. HALL, P. BRENNAN AND THE IDEAL CONSORTIUM PARTNERS

261 VNTR typing studies of Mycobacterium leprae in China: Assessment of methods and stability of markers during treatment. Y. XING, J. LIU, R. M. SAKAMURI, Z. WANG, Y. WEN, V. VISSA AND X. WENG

272 A continuation: study and characterisation of Mycobacterium leprae short tandem repeat genotypes and transmission of leprosy in Cebu, Philippines. R. M. SAKAMURI, J. HARRISON, R. GELBER, P. SAUNDERSON, P. J. BRENNAN, M. BALAGON AND V. VISSA

280 Molecular epidemiology of leprosy based on VNTR typing in Thailand. S. SRISUNGNAM,J. RUDEEANEKSIN, A. LUKEBUA, S. WATTANAPOKAYAKIT, S. PASADORN, K. MAHOTARN, A. CHOLAPAN,R. M. SAKAMURI, M. KIMURA, P. J. BRENNAN, B. PHETSUKSIRI AND V. VISSA

290 VNTR typing of Mycobacterium leprae in South Indian leprosy patients. V. SHINDE, H. NEWTON,R. M. SAKAMURI, V. REDDY, S. JAIN, A. JOSEPH, T. GILLIS, I. NATH, G. NORMAN AND V. VISSA

302 Genetic diversity of Mycobacterium leprae isolates from Brazilian leprosy patients.A. N. B. FONTES, R. M. SAKAMURI, I. M. F. D. BAPTISTA, S. URA, M. O. MORAES, A. N. MARTÍNEZ,E. N. SARNO, P. J. BRENNAN, V. D. VISSA AND P. N. SUFFYS

316 Identification and comparison of Mycobacterium leprae genotypes in two geographical regions of Colombia. N. CARDONA-CASTRO, J. C. BELTRÁN-ALZATE, I. M. ROMERO-MONTOYA, E. MELÉNDEZ, F. TORRES, R. M. SAKAMURI, W. LI AND V. VISSA

322 Various genotypes of Mycobacterium leprae from Mexico reveal distinct geographic distribution. M. MATSUOKA, A. V. GONZALEZ, I. ESTRADA, C. CARREN~O-MARTINEZ AND M. FAFUTIS-MORRIS

Editorial

327 The use of GIS in leprosy control. M. I. BAKKER, P .F. D. SCHEELBEEK AND S. M. VAN BEERS

332 The epidemiological behaviour of leprosy in Brazil. M. L. F. PENNA, M. L. V. D. R. DE OLIVEIRA AND G. O. PENNA

345 Book Review. D. SOUTAR