Arzneimittelforschung, 1989 Jan, 39(1), 31 - 3 Bactericidal effect of cefodizime against beta-lactamase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae in vitro . A comparison of level profiles in serum and tissue after intramuscular and intravenous administration in man; Korting HC et al.; Serum and skin suction blister fluid (SBF) level profiles as well as the profile in the hypothetical peripheral compartment in man after the single intravenous application of 1 g of cefodizime and the corresponding serum level profile after intramuscular application were simulated in the presence of beta-lactamase-producing gonococci . A rapid reduction of bacterial density was observed under each of these conditions indicating clinical efficacy of both treatment protocols in uncomplicated gonorrhoea . Considering the different level profiles in more detail both serum level profiles after intravenous and intramuscular injection turned out similarly effective: while the time needed for a 99% reduction of gonococcal density (t99%) was slightly shorter with the intravenous profile (1.45 vs . 1.68 h), the maximum relative reduction was somewhat smaller, expressed by a higher kn value (0.00024 vs . 0.00010%) . The drug level profile in the hypothetical peripheral compartment proved on the whole equally effective as the serum level profiles . The suction blister fluid level profile, however, showed an inferior antigonococcal activity (kn = 0.00076%, t99% = 2.08 h) . This demonstrates the value of the determination of SBF levels and their inclusion in in-vitro simulation experiments. Mol Microbiol, 1989 Jan, 3(1), 49 - 55 The virulence-associated gonococcal H.8 gene encodes 14 tandemly repeated pentapeptides; Baehr W et al.; H.8 is a virulence-associated, surface-exposed immunogenic macromolecule composed of lipid and protein, common to Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis . The H.8 DNA sequence predicted a 6.9 kD peptide comprising 14 tandemly repeated pentameric sequences . Ten were identical: Pro, Ala, Ala, Glu, Ala . Also predicted was a lipoprotein leader consensus sequence which probably specified acylation since the Escherichia coli-expressed protein was tightly associated with lipid . Lipid appeared to contribute significantly to H.8 antigen's electrophoretic mobility . This is the first description of a prokaryotic outer membrane protein composed solely of tandem repeats . Furthermore, DNA encoding this repeat appears to have been duplicated and translocated into another neisserial gene encoding an azurin. Mol Microbiol, 1989 Jan, 3(1), 43 - 8 Conserved lipoprotein H.8 of pathogenic Neisseria consists entirely of pentapeptide repeats; Woods JP et al.; The pathogenic Neisseria, N . gonorrhoeae and N . meningitidis, possess an outer membrane protein (OMP), designated H.8, with a conserved monoclonal antibody (MAb)-binding epitope . We determined the DNA sequence of a gonococcal H.8 gene, and confirmed the relationship between the cloned gene and the H.8 OMP by constructing a gonococcal mutant lacking H.8 . The predicted H.8 OMP is a lipoprotein 71 amino acids in length, composed of 13 repeats of a consensus sequence AAEAP with perfect 5-residue periodicity . The AAEAP units form a repeating epitope that comprises the entire predicted sequence of the protein. Mol Microbiol, 1989 Jan, 3(1), 35 - 41 Penicillin-binding protein 2 genes of non-beta-lactamase-producing, penicillin-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Dowson CG et al.; Oligonucleotides that correspond to regions of the penicillin-binding protein 2 gene (penA) that differ between penicillin-sensitive and penicillin-resistant strains have been used as probes to classify the penA genes in a collection of penicillin-resistant gonococci isolated in Britain . 44/47 of those gonococcal strains that had minimal inhibitory concentrations of greater than or equal to 0.25 microgram benzylpenicillin per ml contained extensively altered penA genes which appeared to be very similar (or identical) to one or other of the two classes of altered penA genes that have been described previously . Since these two classes of altered penA genes are related, it appears that the great majority of the altered penA genes on non-beta-lactamase-producing penicillin-resistant gonococci have a clonal origin . The other three penicillin-resistant strains had altered penA genes that were different to those described previously . A crucial step in the development of the altered forms of PBP2 with decreased affinity for penicillin appears to have been the insertion of an extra codon within the transpeptidase domain of the penA gene . This insertion was found in the penA gene of all gonococci with minimal inhibitory concentrations of greater than 0.016 microgram benzylpenicillin per ml but was not found in any strains with minimal inhibitory concentrations of less than or equal to 0.016 microgram per ml. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique, 1989, 37(1), 7 - 12 {Epidemiologic aspects of infections due to Neisseria gonorrhoea in Belgium}; Walckiers D et al.; In the context of a surveillance programme for communicable diseases in Belgium, a network of microbiological laboratories has, since February, 1983, made weekly registrations of a number of pathogenic agents, among them, N . gonorrhoeae . Some epidemiological characteristics of N . gonorrhoeae in Belgium are discussed . Although only a portion of Belgian laboratories participate in the programme, the total of cases registered from 1983 through 1986 was 2 to 5 times greater than obtained through the notifiable diseases reporting system . More than 75% of the cases registered concerned those between 20 and 39 years of age, with a maximum for the 20-29-year age group . In 1985, 82% of the diagnoses were based on one culture alone (or one + ELISA); in 1986, this percentage was only 66%. Genitourin Med, 1989 Jan, 65(1), 8 - 13 Utility of monoclonal antibody coagglutination to identify Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Young H et al.; The Phadebact monoclonal gonococcus coagglutination test was evaluated with 1367 (996 anogenital and 371 pharyngeal) neisserial isolates from patients who gave positive diagnostic test results for Neisseria gonorrhoeae . The overall correlation with carbohydrate utilisation was 99.7% . The Phadebact test had a specificity of 100% (286/286) and a sensitivity of 99.7% (1077/1080) . The three non-reactive strains were epidemiologically linked and were of a very unusual serovar . Unlike polyclonal antibody based tests, the monoclonal antibody test provides reliable identification of gonococci from anogenital and pharyngeal sites . Because non-reactive strains are rare, however, negative anogenital isolates from heterosexual patients should be tested biochemically . The use of two reagents comprising separate pools of monoclonal antibodies against gonococcal protein IA and IB permitted the identification of an appreciable number of double infections, which would otherwise have been missed . Genital, rectal, and pharyngeal isolates from the same patient should be identified individually. J Clin Microbiol, 1989 Jan, 27(1), 227 - 8 Evaluation of a method for rapid detection of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae in urethral exudates; Herve VM et al.; A substrate, pyridine-2-azo-p-dimethylaniline cephalosporin (PADAC; Diagnostic Pasteur, Marnes-La-Coquette, France), for detection of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) on isolated colonies grown on agar was compared with the nitrocefin reference test (Cefinase; Biomerieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) . The PADAC test was also used to detect PPNG directly on urethral exudates . All 38 PPNG-containing and 29 of 30 PPNG-negative urethral pus isolates gave results in agreement with those obtained on cultured isolates . We conclude that direct detection of PPNG in urethral exudates from males is simple, rapid, reliable, and sensitive. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1989 Jan, 160(1), 26 - 31 Interferon-gamma in the diagnosis and pathogenesis of pelvic inflammatory disease; Grifo JA et al.; Serologic markers were evaluated to determine if they could aid in the differential diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease in 48 consecutive women seeking evaluation for pelvic pain . On the basis of clinical and microbiologic parameters, 29 patients (60.4%) were diagnosed as having pelvic inflammatory disease . Neisseria gonorrhoeae only was isolated from the cervix of eight (27.6%) patients with pelvic inflammatory disease, five (17.2%) had only Chlamydia, and two (6.9%) had Neisseria and Chlamydia, whereas in 15 (48.3%) patients no pathogen was isolated . Interferon-gamma was present in significantly more sera (p less than 0.025) from patients with pelvic inflammatory disease (65.5%) than from women without pelvic inflammatory disease (15.8%) . Sera from 10 healthy women lacked detectable interferon-gamma . In patients with only Neisseria, seven (87.5%) had circulating interferon-gamma; three (60%) of the women with only Chlamydia, one (50%) woman with Neisseria and Chlamydia, and eight (57.1%) with no identified pathogens were also positive for interferon-gamma . Sera from 11 of 28 patients with pelvic inflammatory disease (39%) but only one of 19 sera from women without pelvic inflammatory disease (5%) also inhibited the Candida-induced proliferation of control lymphocytes . This immunosuppressive activity was prevented by immunoprecipitation of interferon-gamma by anti-interferon-gamma antibody but not by treatment with anti-interferon-alpha antibody . The persistence of interferon-gamma in the sera of patients with pelvic inflammatory disease may aid in the differential diagnosis of this disease and increase our understanding of the pathogenesis of microbial-mediated tubal damage. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1989 Jan, 86(1), 17 - 21 Structure and heterogeneity of the oligosaccharides from the lipopolysaccharides of a pyocin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Gibson BW et al.; The compositions and partial structures of the oligosaccharides from the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of a pyocin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae (strain JW31R) have been determined by liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry (LSIMS), tandem mass spectrometry, and methylation analysis . Four major structures were identified with Mr 2123, 2000, 1961, and 1838, as well as seven species of lower abundance of Mr 1758-1272 . The largest of the major oligosaccharides (Mr, 2122) consists of 3-deoxymanno-2-ketooctulosonic acid (KDO)-Hep2GalNAcGlcNAcGal4Glc2 (Hep, heptose) and phosphoethanolamine (PEA) . The smaller oligosaccharides are truncated versions of this larger oligosaccharide . The oligosaccharides consist of a common triantennary structure containing KDO at the reducing terminus attached to a heptose disaccharide . A hexose (Hex)2-3 branch is attached to the heptose linked directly to KDO and a GalNAc-Hex3, GlcNAc, and PEA are separately attached to the second heptose . These oligosaccharides are the first structures to be determined for a gonococcal LPS and should further our understanding of the structural and antigenic diversity of these glycolipids. Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1989, 178(1), 53 - 9 Failure of adherence to buccal cells and surface hydrophobicity as virulence markers in Neisseria meningitidis; Criado MT et al.; Surface hydrophobicity and adherence to buccal epithelial cells were studied in 33 carrier and 34 invasive Neisseria meningitidis strains . It was found that hydrophobicity is statistically similar in both groups (P = 0.0507) although it could be considered that carrier strains are slightly more hydrophobic than invasive ones . Adherence was similar in both groups although more homogeneous in the carrier strains . No correlation could be demonstrated between these two properties nor can they be considered relevant as markers of the carrier or invasive status of this bacterium, indicating that at least in N . meningitidis they are not good properties to discriminate virulent strains. Rev Chil Obstet Ginecol, 1989, 54(2), 66 - 70 {Diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases in Chilean pregnant adolescents}; Bernal JN et al.; We searched in 100 healthy pregnant women by isolation, the presence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Herpes simplex, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Chlamydia trachomatis . Blood was also taken for examination of specific antibodies to these microorganisms . We studied only for antibodies titled Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Treponema pallidum and Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and Condyloma acuminatum by cervical cytology . In 85 adolescents we found 5 (6%) patients with C . trachomatis, four of these patients had another microorganism added, one with N . gonorrhoeae, M . hominis and U . Urealyticum, one with U . urealyticum and the last two with M . hominis and U . urealyticum, In relation to Mycoplasmas 69 (81%) out of 85 had Mycoplasmas, 4 (5%) had M . hominis, 46 (54%) U . urealyticum and 19 (22%) patients had both . The seropositivity to CMV was 96.25% . We didn't find any other microorganism . We concluded that the rate of STD in chilean pregnant adolescent women is high, especially with no traditional bacteria. West Afr J Med, 1989 Jan-Mar, 8(1), 42 - 9 Sexually transmitted diseases in Nigeria . A review of the present situation; Ogunbanjo BO; PIP: Gonorrhea is the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease (STD) in Nigeria . In fact, in 1963, WHO found Lagos to have the highest gonorrhea rate in the world . Recent surveys report gonorrhea prevalence to be as high as 28.1% . Further some studies show a clear association between gonorrhea and male and female infertility . Penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhea prevalence varies from 44.4% in Zaria to 80% in Ibadan . There is an increase in the prevalence of gonorrhea among girls, mostly due to sociocultural factors such as the belief that sexual intercourse with a girl who has urethritis cures the condition . Gonorrhea is not always the most common form of urethritis, however . For example, in a study in Ibadan, 61% of male urethritis cases had nonspecific urethritis . Further schistosomiasis often causes urethral symptoms like those of gonorrhea . Most women at STD clinics have vaginitis and vaginal discharge . Even though the prevalence of trichomoniasis and candidiasis are rather high (10.2-22.3% and 4.33.1% respectively), bacterial vaginosis is the leading cause of vaginitis and vaginal discharge in Nigeria . The predominant malignancy of women in Nigeria is cervical cancer which my be due to the high rates of infection of trichomoniasis and Herpes virus II . Another prevalent STD is syphilis, yet many people with the infection are asymptomatic . For example, a study reports that 10.3% of women in a prenatal clinic in Lagos tested positive for syphilis, but the physician believed only 1.5% had syphilis . Tropical venereal diseases still cause genital ulcers in Nigeria . Dermatophyte infection, genital warts, and pedicubsis pubis also occur, but scant data exist . Many people believe they have an STD and do not, yet they insist they do . This phenomenon may be a result of the common fear of infertility which results from STDs . In conclusion, the government should allocate adequate funds for health programs and research, particularly those associated with STDs . J Immunoassay, 1989, 10(4), 373 - 94 Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by dot-enzyme immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies; Lussier M et al.; A highly sensitive and specific dot-enzyme immunoassay for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was developed using a pool of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) . The MAbs were obtained following immunization of mice with lithium acetate extracted outer membrane (OM) preparations . Western immunoblotting experiments demonstrated that MAbs NG26 and NG38, both IgG2a, reacted with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and with the major OM protein, P1, respectively, MAb NG28, an IgG3, did not react in Western immunoblotting, MAbs NG28 and NG38 failed to react with OM treated with proteolytic enzymes or with semi-purified preparation of LPS . MAb NG26 reacted with the same LPS preparation . Binding radioimmunoassay with live bacteria showed that all the MAbs adsorbed to cell surface-exposed antigenic determinants . The limit of detection of the dot-enzyme immunoassay was between 1 and 4 x 10(4) cfu per dot . Using a panel of 177 strains of N . gonorrhoeae, MAbs NG28 and NG38 recognized only P1A and P1B strains respectively . MAb NG26 reacted with P1A, P1B and non-typable strains . These MAbs did not react with other Neisseria species or other bacterial species . Using this pool, the dot-enzyme immunoassay had a sensitivity of 93.2% and a specificity of 100%. Free Radic Res Commun, 1989, 7(2), 83 - 7 The role of hydroxyl radical in chromosomal and plasmid damage in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in vivo; Hassett DJ et al.; Viable Neisseria gonorrhoeae exposed to streptonigrin generate intracellular hydroxyl radical detected by spin-trapping with 5,5-dimethyl-l-pyrroline-N-oxide; gonococci exposed to paraquat generate primarily superoxide (J . Biol . Chem., 262: 13404-143048, 1987) . The use of streptonigrin and paraquat provide a model with which to examine the action and site(s) of hydroxyl radical-mediated damage . N . gonorrhoeae exposed to streptonigrin, but not paraquat, developed extensive chromosomal, plasmid, and RNA damage . Addition of excess Fe+3 to the reaction mixture enhanced intracellular hydroxyl radical formation by paraquat, detectable as DNA damage . Desferal and dimethyl sulfoxide allowed approximately 25% of protection of plasmid DNA damage as judged by linear scanning densitometry . These results demonstrate DNA and RNA damage in viable organisms exposed to intracellular redox stress and confirm the critical role of hydroxyl radical in this process. Microbios, 1989, 59(238), 37 - 45 Neisseria meningitidis: heterogenicity in the outer membrane proteins released into the growth medium; Jascolt E et al.; Eight strains of Neisseria meningitidis belonging to different serogroups were analysed for their virulence in mice and their release of outer membrane proteins into the medium during growth . All strains released proteins . No detectable lipopolysaccharide was observed . However, SDS-PAGE showed a heterogenicity in the protein number and profile among the different strains of N . meningitidis tested. Mol Microbiol, 1989 Jan, 3(1), 57 - 64 Probing the surface of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: immunoelectron microscopic studies to localize cyanogen bromide fragment 2 in gonococcal pili; Robinson EN Jr et al.; Common epitopes accessible to antibody on purified macromolecules or structurally altered gonococci may not be accessible to antibody when those macromolecules are in their native state on the surface of intact organisms . To determine the immunologic accessibility of cyanogen bromide fragment 2 (CNBr2), a portion of the gonococcal pilin molecule that is common to all gonococcal strains on the surface of viable gonococci, probes composed of specific CNBr2 antibodies linked to gold spheres were manufactured . When whole piliated gonococci were exposed to these anti-CNBr2 immunological probes and examined using transmission electron microscopy, no significant marketing of native pili was evident . These probes, however, detected CNBr2 in purified form . The epitopes encompassed within the CNBr2 portion of pili appear to be inaccessible to anti-CNBr2 probes within native gonococcal pili. Gene, 1988 Dec 25, 74(1), 93 - 7 Neisseria gonorrhoeae M.Ngo AI DNA methyltransferase: physical and catalytic properties of the homogeneous enzyme; Piekarowicz A et al.; A DNA methyltransferase, M.NgoAI, was purified to homogeneity from Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain WR220 by successive column chromatography . Its Mr is 25,000, as determined by both gel filtration and denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Maximal enzymatic activity was obtained in 50 mM Tris.HCl (pH 7.4), 10 mM EDTA, with incubation at 37 degrees C . An apparent Km value for S-adenosylmethionine and 5' -GGCC sites was determined to be 1.25 microM and 89.6 nM, respectively. EMBO J, 1988 Dec 20, 7(13), 4367 - 78 Pilin expression in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is under both positive and negative transcriptional control; Taha MK et al.; We have identified two closely linked genes, pilA and pilB, which act in trans on the pilin promoter . pilA-pilB map downstream of expression loci pilE1 and opaE1 in the gonococcal chromosome . Subcloning data indicate that pilB acts negatively on the pilin promoter, and insertional inactivation of pilB results in hyperpiliated gonococci . A pilA clone activates the pilin promoter in Escherichia coli, and a pilA-/pilA+ heterodiploid gonococcus exhibits a P- phenotype . Our inability to obtain simple pilA- mutants strongly suggests that pilA is an essential gene in the gonococcus . In an in vitro coupled transcription/translation system, inserts spanning the pilA and pilB region direct the synthesis of two proteins of 40 and 58 kd . DNA sequence analysis shows that the pilA and pilB loci encode proteins of 38.6 kd (with a putative DNA binding domain) and 57.9 kd respectively . The pilA and pilB genes are in opposite orientation relative to each other, and the 5' ends of the two genes overlap . We discuss how these two loci may interact to control pilin expression in the gonococcus. J Immunol, 1988 Dec 15, 141(12), 4357 - 62 Murine immune response to the Neisseria meningitidis group C capsular polysaccharide . II . Specificity; Rubinstein LJ et al.; As a means of further understanding the regulation of diversity and the development of protective immunity to the Neisseria meningitidis group C capsular polysaccharide (MCPS), we have generated and characterized, in detail, a panel of mAb against MCPS, a homopolymer of alpha(2----9)-sialic acid . Whereas the serum response to MCPS is restricted to the IgM and IgG3 isotypes, the panel of mAb includes, in addition, both IgG1 and IgG2b . Among 15 mAb of four isotypes, seven different specificities were observed based on direct binding in a fluorescence ELISA and precipitation in gel . Although all the mAb were derived from mice immunized with bacteria encapsulated with the native MCPS (strain C11), only 7 of 15 reacted with MCPS alone . Seven of 15 reacted with a natural O-acetyl-negative variant (OAc-, strain MC19) polysaccharide as well as with MCPS . Five of these reacted as much as 3 logs better with OAc- than MCPS and the other two reacted better with MCPS than OAc- . One mAb appeared to be alpha(2----9)-linkage specific as it reacted not only with MCPS and OAc-, but also with the capsular polysaccharide of Escherichia coli K92, a polymer of sialic acid linked alternately alpha(2----8) and alpha(2----9) . None of the mAb reacted with the capsular polysaccharide of E . coli K1, a homopolymer of alpha(2----8)-sialic acid . In general, there was a good correlation between the ability to precipitate Ag in gel and to agglutinate bacteria; however, 3 of 15 mAb, all IgG3, did not conform to this rule in that they precipitated Ag but did not agglutinate bacteria of the relevant capsular specificity . Antibodies of both IgM and IgG isotypes and of both major specificities, MCPS-specific and those binding MCPS and OAc-, were bactericidal for strain C11, whereas only those reactive with OAc- were able to kill strain MC19. J Immunol, 1988 Dec 15, 141(12), 4352 - 6 Murine immune response to the Neisseria meningitidis group C capsular polysaccharide . I . Ontogeny; Rubinstein LJ et al.; The immune response to polysaccharide Ag develops late in ontogeny and the underlying mechanisms of the infant unresponsiveness are poorly understood . The development of vaccines that will prove efficacious in infants has been hindered by the lack of animal systems suitable for studying immunity to human pathogens . We have examined the BALB/c murine response to the capsular polysaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis group C (MCPS), a homopolymer of alpha(2----9) sialic acid, as a model system for the development of immunity to bacterial polysaccharides in man . We have observed the appearance of natural antibody of both IgM and IgG classes which increases with age, and the transfer of maternal IgG to the offspring . Both the naturally occurring and postimmunization serum responses are restricted to the IgM and IgG3 isotypes, and include antibody titers to both MCPS as well as a natural O-acetyl-negative variant (OAc-) . The preimmune anti-OAc- antibodies, in contrast to anti-MCPS, were restricted to the IgM class, whereas after immunization with MCPS both IgM and low titers of IgG3 antibodies to OAc- were produced . These studies demonstrate that the BALB/c mouse strain shows a markedly similar immune profile to that observed in man. J Immunol Methods, 1988 Dec 9, 115(2), 269 - 74 A spectrophotometric method for evaluating a latex agglutination assay of Salmonella typhi lipopolysaccharide; Lim PL et al.; A spectrophotometer set at a wavelength of 400 nm was used to read reaction mixtures containing a 0.01% suspension of antibody-sensitized latex particles and different amounts of soluble antigen, after incubation in tubes for 30 min . The antigen used was Salmonella typhi lipopolysaccharide, and the antibody was an O-9-specific monoclonal antibody . Agglutination was indicated by a fall in the turbidimetric measurement compared to control, unagglutinated latex . It was observed that agglutination increased with increasing concentrations of antigen to a maximum at 0.25-1.0 micrograms/ml, after which, the amount of agglutination decreased at a similar rate as far as 1 mg/ml of antigen, when no agglutination occurred at all . Thus, a bi-symmetrical curve was obtained, suggestive of a precipitation reaction . At the 'equivalence point', the turbidity of the reaction mixture compared to control fell from OD400 1.1 to OD400 0.3 . A similar inhibition of reaction at 'antigen excess' was observed visually in the reaction mixtures . Conventional slide tests performed in parallel could also be inhibited, but at higher antigen levels . Inhibition could be achieved with a commercially available latex used for the detection of Neisseria meningitidis antigen. Med J Aust, 1988 Dec 5-19, 149(11-12), 710 - 1 Adult penicillinase-producing gonococcal keratoconjunctivitis; Saad N et al.; The case is described of a 22-year-old man who presented with ulcerative keratitis as a complication of conjunctivitis that was caused by penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae . The need for first-line treatment with antibiotic agents that are resistant to beta-lactamase breakdown is discussed. Aust N Z J Med, 1988 Dec, 18(7), 874 - 6 A case of polymicrobial infective endocarditis involving Neisseria mucosa occurring in an intravenous drug abuser; Giles MW et al.; The incidence of polymicrobial endocarditis has increased markedly in recent years, in association with the increasing level of abuse of intravenous drugs . Neisseria mucosa, an upper respiratory tract commensal, is a rare cause of infective endocarditis . We report the first case of polymicrobial infective endocarditis involving Neisseria mucosa occurring in an intravenous drug abuser. Genitourin Med, 1988 Dec, 64(6), 364 - 6 Enoxacin as one day oral treatment of men with anal or pharyngeal gonorrhoea; Bakhtiar M et al.; The efficacy of two regimens of oral enoxacin (400 mg as a single dose or two 200 mg doses 12 hours apart) to treat anal and pharyngeal gonorrhoea was compared . Fifty men with confirmed gonorrhoea (40 with anal, six with pharyngeal, and four with both) were treated and assessed three to five and seven to 14 days after treatment . Of 44 evaluable patients who attended the first follow up, including those who were infected with penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG), all were cured . No haematological or biochemical abnormality associated with enoxacin was observed . Nine patients reported minor adverse effects during the trial period, only one of which was considered probably related to the treatment . Both regimens of 400 mg enoxacin were effective in treating anal and pharyngeal gonorrhoea. Am J Public Health, 1988 Dec, 78(12), 1583 - 4 Use of a leukocyte esterase dipstick to detect Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae urethritis in asymptomatic adolescent male detainees; O'Brien SF et al.; We tested 91 asymptomatic adolescent male detainees in a short-stay detention facility in Seattle, Washington for the presence of leukocyte esterase in first-catch urine and for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection . C . trachomatis was isolated from 10 subjects (11 per cent) and N . gonorrhoeae from five (5 per cent) . Dipsticks detected leukocyte esterase in the urine of all 15 subjects with either infection and of 13 subjects with neither infection . Detection of leukocyte esterase was 100 per cent sensitive, 83 per cent specific, and 54 per cent predictive for the presence of either organism. J Gen Microbiol, 1988 Dec, 134 ( Pt 12), 3285 - 94 Role of outer-membrane proteins and lipopolysaccharide in conjugation between Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria cinerea; Genco CA et al.; Little is known concerning the mechanism involved in cell contact between the donor and recipient during conjugation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae . The formation of stable mating pairs during conjugation in Escherichia coli appears to require a specific protein as well as LPS in the outer membrane of the recipient cell . To attempt to identify the cell surface components necessary for conjugation in the neisseriae, we began a comparison of the outer membrane of Neisseria cinerea strains that can (Con+) and cannot (Con-) serve as recipients in conjugation with N . gonorrhoeae . There were no differences in outer-membrane protein profiles on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis between Con+ and Con- strains that could be correlated with the ability to conjugate . However, whole outer membrane isolated from Con+ strains specifically inhibited conjugation while those from Con- strains did not . Proteolytic cleavage of outer-membrane proteins by trypsin, pronase or alpha-chymotrypsin abolished the inhibitory effect of Con+ outer membranes, suggesting that these outer membranes contained a protease-sensitive protein(s) involved in conjugation . Although periodate oxidation of Con+ outer-membrane carbohydrates did not abolish the inhibitory action of these membranes, purified LPS from both Con+ and Con- strains inhibited conjugation when added at low concentrations . These results suggest that conjugation requires the presence of a specific conjugal receptor that consists of both LPS and one or more outer-membrane proteins . Both Con+ and Con- strains contain the necessary LPS, but only Con+ strains contain the required protein(s). J Gen Microbiol, 1988 Dec, 134 ( Pt 12), 3277 - 83 Transfer of a gonococcal beta-lactamase plasmid to conjugation-deficient Neisseria cinerea strains by transformation; Genco CA et al.; We have previously shown that some strains of Neisseria cinerea can serve as recipients in conjugation (Con+) with Neisseria gonorrhoeae while others cannot (Con-) . To determine if a replication defect contributes to the inability of certain strains of N . cinerea to serve as recipients in conjugation, we attempted to introduce a naturally occurring gonococcal beta-lactamase plasmid into N . cinerea by transformation . Various methods were employed, and all proved unsuccessful . Since specific sequences are required for DNA uptake in transformation of N . gonorrhoeae, we constructed a number of hybrid plasmids containing N . cinerea chromosomal DNA inserted into the N . gonorrhoeae/Escherichia coli beta-lactamase shuttle vector, pLES2 . When nine randomly selected plasmids with inserts were used to transform an N . cinerea strain which did not accept the gonococcal beta-lactamase plasmid by conjugation, transformants were observed with four of the hybrid plasmids . The presence of one of the hybrid plasmids, pCAG9, in transformants was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis, Southern hybridization, and beta-lactamase production . When an N . gonorrhoeae donor strain containing pCAG9 was used in conjugation with several N . cinerea strains, only those strains that were previously shown to act as recipients could accept and maintain pCAG9 . The ability of pCAG9 and the other three hybrid plasmids to transform Con- strains demonstrates that the beta-lactamase plasmid can replicate in Con- strains, and, therefore, the Con- phenotype is due to a block in some other stage of the conjugation process. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1988 Dec, 11(4), 209 - 13 Neisseria meningitidis and Moraxella osloensis: dual infection in blood and peritoneal fluid; Tiosejo LL et al.; The clinical course of a malnourished alcoholic in which Neisseria meningitidis was isolated from the blood and Moraxella osloensis from the peritoneal fluid is described . Following bacteriologic diagnosis, the patient was treated and responded to a course of penicillin therapy . To our knowledge, this represents the first case of peritonitis associated with M . osloensis . Clinical reports of the isolation of this organism are rare; its pathogenicity is not clearly established, and the presence of the organism may often be unrecognized. J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Dec, 26(12), 2544 - 8 Selective medium for Branhamella catarrhalis with acetazolamide as a specific inhibitor of Neisseria spp; Vaneechoutte M et al.; Several semiselective media for Branhamella catarrhalis have been proposed . These media allow growth of all members of the family Neisseriaceae, and further differentiation is necessary . By addition of 10 micrograms of acetazolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, per ml and incubation in air, a medium was created which reduced growth of Neisseria spp . When saliva samples from 178 healthy schoolchildren were screened for the presence of B . catarrhalis, the carrier rate for this organism was estimated to be 48.9% with the selective medium compared with 12.4% when a semiselective medium, which contains only 10 micrograms of vancomycin, 5 micrograms of trimethoprim, and 2 micrograms of amphotericin B per ml, was used and 6.2% when a nonselective blood agar plate was used . The number of Neisseria spp . isolated dropped from 297 on the semiselective agar to 55 on the selective agar. J Immunol, 1988 Dec 1, 141(11), 3902 - 9 Assembly of the membrane attack complex promotes decay of the alternative pathway C3 convertase on Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Densen P et al.; C3, C4, factor B, properdin, and C2 binding to serum-sensitive and serum-resistant gonococci was quantitated in C8-deficient and normal human serum by using fluorescein-conjugated antibodies and 3H-labeled components . Organism and serum-specific differences were noted, the most striking of which involved factor B and properdin binding to the serum-sensitive strains in the different sera . C3 binding to these organisms was quantitatively and kinetically equivalent in C8-deficient and normal human serum . In contrast, factor B and properdin binding reached a plateau after 5 min in C8-deficient serum but peaked and fell to control values in normal human serum . Identical results were obtained with normal human serum immunochemically depleted of C8 . Between 7 and 15% of the bound C3 participated in formation of the alternative pathway convertase C3bBb/P . Reconstitution of the C cascade by adding purified C8 to C8-deficient serum led to the loss of factor B previously bound to the organisms . Factor B loss occurred coincident with bacterial killing and membrane disruption as observed by electron microscopy . Prevention of membrane disruption by depleting normal human serum of lysozyme had no effect on killing and failed to prevent factor B loss . Stabilization of the C3bBb complex with Ni2+ prevented factor B loss as well as gross membrane disruption but not bacterial killing . C2 (the classical pathway analog of factor B) binding to gonococci was equivalent in C8-deficient and normal human serum peaking within 2.5 min and falling to control values in both sera thereafter . We conclude that the assembly of the membrane attack complex promotes decay of C3bBb/P with release of factor B and properdin but not C3 from the organism surface . Membrane disruption does not appear to be required for this effect . This activity may represent a mechanism to limit continued C consumption. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1988 Dec, 32(12), 1788 - 92 Differential effects of DNA gyrase inhibitors on the genetic transformation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Parham C et al.; Inhibitors of DNA gyrase in Escherichia coli exerted differential effects on the genetic transformation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae . When competent cells of the gonococcus were exposed to novobiocin before the uptake of transforming antibiotic resistance DNA, there was a 50 to 60% reduction in the number of transformants compared with the number of control untreated cells . Norfloxacin, a more potent inhibitor of DNA gyrase and an analog of nalidixic acid, nearly abolished the production of transformants by recipient cells . On the contrary, exposure of competent cells to nalidixic acid had no effect on transformant yield . The target of these inhibitors appears to be at the level of recombination . Possible mechanisms are discussed. Nature, 1988 Nov 24, 336(6197), 392 - 5 DNA transformation leads to pilin antigenic variation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Seifert HS et al.; Many pathogenic bacteria express pili (fimbriae) on their cell surfaces . These structures mediate binding of bacteria to host tissues, and may also be involved in other aspects of pathogenesis . Neisseria gonorrhoeae pili are mainly composed of a single protein, pilin, whose expression is controlled at chromosomal expression loci (pilE) . An intact pilin gene and promoter sequences are only found at pilE . Strain MS11 contains two expression sites (pilE1 and pilE2), whereas several of its derivatives and other clinical isolates contain only one . Silent pilin loci (pilS1-pilS7) contain truncated variant pilin genes lacking the promoter and conserved pilin gene sequences . Pilin antigenic variation in N . gonorrhoeae occurs by DNA recombination between one of he silent partial variant gene segments in pilS and an expressed pilin gene in pilE . The recombination reactions are nonreciprocal, and therefore the mechanism has been classified as gene conversion . We report that much of the recombination between pilin loci actually occurs after transformation of living piliated cells by DNA liberated from lysed cells within a population . This constitutes a new molecular mechanism for an antigenic variation system, as well as the first specific function for a DNA transformation system. Z Hautkr, 1988 Nov 15, 63(11), 897 - 8, 905-6 {Detection of antibodies to Neisseria gonorrhoeae in cervicovaginal secretion and in serum}; Koch HJ et al.; In 33 female patients suffering from gonorrhoea, we searched for specific antibodies (IgA, IgG, IgM) directed against gonococci by means of the indirect immunofluorescence technique . This investigation was performed both before and after specific treatment . In comparison to 17 healthy women, we found increased rates of IgA and IgG antibodies in the secretion of our patients, the IgA rate being slightly higher than the IgG count; IgM was not detectable at all . In the serum, IgG antibodies clearly dominated over IgA and IgM . After successful treatment, IgA antibodies showed a more rapid reduction than IgG in both secretion and serum. Microb Pathog, 1988 Nov, 5(5), 381 - 90 Presence of antibodies to the major anaerobically induced gonococcal outer membrane protein in sera from patients with gonococcal infections; Clark VL et al.; Anaerobically grown Neisseria gonorrhoeae induces and represses the synthesis of outer membrane proteins . One of the anaerobically induced proteins, Pan 1, reacted strongly on Western blots with sera from patients with uncomplicated gonococcal infection, pelvic inflammatory disease, and disseminated gonococcal infection, but not with normal human serum . The pattern of reactivity of the sera against Pan 1 from several gonococcal strains suggested that the protein was antigenically heterogeneous, containing both common and unique epitopes . Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease digestion of Pan 1 from four gonococcal strains revealed the presence of common peptides, with one strain also containing some unique peptides and lacking others . The class of the antibody reactive with gonococcal outer membrane antigens was examined; anti-Pan 1 antibody was found to be IgG or IgM, but not IgA . The IgM antibody present reacted predominantly with Pan 1 . These data indicate that the Pan 1 protein is expressed in vivo and strongly suggest that N . gonorrhoeae can grow anaerobically in vivo. J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Nov, 26(11), 2283 - 6 Serologic confirmation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by monoclonal antibody-based coagglutination procedures; Anand CM et al.; Two commercially available monoclonal antibody coagglutination tests, Phadebact Monoclonal GC OMNI Test (PMGOT; Pharmacia Diagnostics AB, Uppsala, Sweden) and GonoGen (GG; New Horizons Diagnostics, Columbia, Md.), for the confirmation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were evaluated . The sensitivities of PMGOT and GG were 99.2 and 98.7% and the specificities were 91.5 and 100.0%, respectively . False-positive reactions were observed with Neisseria lactamica and Neisseria meningitidis in PMGOT . A modification of the procedure recommended by the manufacturer for PMGOT was done by substituting Todd-Hewitt broth for 0.9% saline to prepare the suspension of the test organism . This eliminated technical difficulties with the test and resulted in a sensitivity and a specificity of 99.3 and 100.0%, respectively . Advantages offered by the modified PMGOT over GG were the better predictive value of the negative test, the lower cost, the ease of reading of the test, and the lack of noninterpretable results. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 Nov, 269(4), 506 - 12 {Lectin typing as an efficient epidemiological marker system for Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections}; Korting HC et al.; A total of 102 Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from Munich with known nutritional requirements were examined for lectin agglutination patterns using Taxonolectin panels containing 14 different plant originated lectins with known specificity . 29 different lectin agglutination patterns were found (in comparison auxotyping showed 17 different groups) . All strains reacted with Concanavalin A and Trichosanthes kinlowii and did not show positive reactions with Limax flavus and Ulex europaeus I . 49 Isolates (48%) had lectin agglutination patterns associated with only four lectin groups (in comparison the four major auxotyping groups comprised 58 (57%) of the tested isolates) . A correlation between auxotype and lectin agglutination pattern could not be demonstrated . Reproducibility of lectin agglutination patterns was excellent. Mol Microbiol, 1988 Nov, 2(6), 797 - 806 Three copies of a single protein II-encoding sequence in the genome of Neisseria gonorrhoeae JS3: evidence for gene conversion and gene duplication; van der Ley P; Gonococci express a family of related outer membrane proteins designated protein II (P.II) . These surface proteins are subject to both phase variation and antigenic variation . The P.II gene repertoire of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain JS3 was found to consist of at least ten genes, eight of which were cloned . Sequence analysis and DNA hybridization studies revealed that one particular P.II-encoding sequence is present in three distinct, but almost identical, copies in the JS3 genome . These genes encode the P.II protein that was previously identified as P.IIc . Comparison of their sequences shows that the multiple copies of this P.IIc-encoding gene might have been generated by both gene conversion and gene duplication. J Exp Med, 1988 Nov 1, 168(5), 1883 - 97 Characterization and specificity of antibodies to protein I of Neisseria gonorrhoeae produced by injection with various protein I-adjuvant preparations; Wetzler LM et al.; A major goal of gonococcal research is the development of a gonorrheal vaccine . A vaccine candidate is the major outer membrane protein (PI) of the gonococcus, which has limited antigenic variability . Two main subtypes, PIA and PIB, and nine main serotypes have been described . To avoid raising anti-protein III (PIII)-blocking antibodies and limit potential lipooligosaccharide toxicity, PI was chromatographically isolated with minimal PIII contamination (less than 1%) from Pgh 3-2 (PIB), a serum-sensitive gonococcal strain and UU1 (PIA), a serum-resistant gonococcal strain . Alum was used as an adjuvant and the antibodies raised in rabbits did not agglutinate the organisms, were not opsonic, and bactericidal titers were not increased . To present PI in a form mimicking its in vivo disposition, it was inserted into liposomes . The resulting antisera did agglutinate the organism and contained opsonic and bactericidal activity greater than the preimmune sera or alum-generated sera . The PIB liposome antisera also had higher ELISA titers to a synthetic peptide equivalent to an exposed portion of PIB and a higher percentage of antibodies absorbed by whole organisms than the PIB alum antisera . We speculate that when PI is presented in liposomes, the antibodies raised are mainly to surface-exposed epitopes of the protein as opposed to when PI is presented absorbed to alum, where the antibodies are produced mainly to buried epitopes. Rev Med Interne, 1988 Nov-Dec, 9(5), 534 - 7 {Hereditary C5 deficiency and recurrent Neisseria meningitidis meningitis}; Ducret F et al.; Deficiencies of the terminal C fragments of the complement system are known to be associated with a remarkable increase in the frequency of Neisseria infections . The correlation is even closer between deficiency of C5 and recurrent N . meningitidis meningitis . The reasons for this bacterial specificity and the immunopathological mechanisms involved have not been clearly established . However, it is known that only adult subjects with homozygous deficiency are affected and that the deficiency is transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait unrelated to the HLA system. Plasmid, 1988 Nov, 20(3), 232 - 40 Construction of miniplasmids from the 7.2-kb and 5.1-kb penicillinase-producing plasmids of Neisseria gonorrhoeae reveals two replication regions; Yeung KH et al.; Two replication regions have been identified on a 7.2-kb penicillinase-producing plasmid (pJD4) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Through construction of mini-plasmids, one replication region of pJD4 was located on a 1.5-kb fragment, designated region "a," that included the unique HindIII site of this plasmid . This region is absent from the 5.1-kb naturally occurring gonococcal penicillinase-producing plasmid (pJD5) which is considered to be a deletion-derivative of the 7.2-kb plasmid . A 1.5-kb fragment (region "b"), part of a 2.5-kb fragment essential for the replication of the 5.1-kb plasmid (pJD5), was found to be responsible for incompatibility . Incompatibility studies showed that in vitro-derived deletion-derivatives from pJD4 and pJD5 containing either region "a" or region "b" were compatible . The DNA sequence of part of region "a" showed that this region was A-T rich . It contained seven sets of A-T rich multiple direct repeats and two putative dnaA boxes, suggesting that the mechanism of replication of region "a" was similar to that of OriC in Escherichia coli. Mol Microbiol, 1988 Nov, 2(6), 827 - 9 Specificity of the lactoferrin and transferrin receptors in Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Lee BC et al.; Lactoferrin (LF) and transferrin (TF) are postulated to be important physiological sources of iron for Neisseria gonorrhoeae . A dot binding assay involving the use of gonococcal total membranes derived from cells grown in iron-limited conditions demonstrated the presence of separate receptors for LF and TF . The ligand and functional specificities of these receptors were examined in competition-binding and growth experiments . The results indicate that the LF and TF receptors are highly specific for the human protein, suggesting that this property may be partially responsible for conferring the human host specificity of N . gonorrhoeae. Hum Reprod, 1988 Oct, 3(7), 861 - 9 Effects of antimicrobial therapy on sperm-mucus interaction; Eggert-Kruse W et al.; Sperm-mucus interaction under in-vitro or in-vivo conditions might be affected by microorganisms colonizing the reproductive tract . In order to study the influence of antimicrobial therapy, an extensive microbial screening was performed including Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a broad spectrum of potentially pathogenic aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, Trichomonas vaginalis, herpes simplex virus and yeasts . One-hundred-and-six couples with a mean duration of infertility of 5.5 years (range 1-12 years) and with isolation of potentially pathogenic microorganisms in semen samples and/or cervical swabs were submitted to a prospective pilot study . None of the patients displayed signs or symptoms of infection in the lower genital tract . Before and after specific therapy, based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing, sperm analyses and in-vitro sperm penetration meter tests (SPMT) (Kremer) were performed . SPMT was evaluated with cervical mucus of patients' wives, collected after a standardized oral treatment with oestrogens and, additionally, in a crossed manner with cervical mucus and spermatozoa of fertile donors . The success of antimicrobial therapy was controlled by repeating the same microbial screening and was 96% . However, there was a marked change in the microbial pattern . A comparison of the results of sperm analyses before and after treatment revealed neither significant differences for sperm volume, sperm count, propulsive motility, morphology, vitality, pH, fructose concentration or number of round cells, nor was there a significant influence on the cervical index and the number of leukocytes in cervical mucus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Microb Pathog, 1988 Oct, 5(4), 303 - 9 Cytidine 5'-monophospho-N-acetyl neuraminic acid and a low molecular weight factor from human blood cells induce lipopolysaccharide alteration in gonococci when conferring resistance to killing by human serum; Parsons NJ et al.; Recently evidence has been obtained that a minute amount of cytidine 5'-monophospho-N-acetyl neuraminic acid (CMP-NANA) or a closely related compound is the low Mr factor in human red blood cells which induces Neisseria gonorrhoeae (BS4(agar} to resistance to killing by fresh human serum . Induction of gonococci to resistance by both CMP-NANA and semi-purified low Mr factor from red blood cells was accompanied by a 35-55% reduction of silver staining of lipopolysaccharide separated in SDS-PAGE gels of proteinase K digests . These alterations in lipopolysaccharide are probably responsible for conferring serum resistance . However, lipopolysaccharide-containing digests from resistant as well as from susceptible gonococci neutralised serum bactericidal activity . These observations may have wider implications since CMP-NANA is a sialylating agent wide-spread in mammalian tissues and LPS is ubiquitous amongst Gram-negative pathogens. Sex Transm Dis, 1988 Oct-Dec, 15(4), 234 - 43 Therapy of uncomplicated gonorrhea due to antibiotic-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Kraus SJ et al.; Antibiotics available to treat uncomplicated anogenital infections due to beta-lactamase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae include spectinomycin, ceftriaxone, and clavulanic acid added to aqueous procaine penicillin G or amoxicillin . Important variables in deciding which antibiotic regimen to use include effectiveness against urethral, cervical, pharyngeal, and rectal infections; cost; eradication of coexisting incubating syphilis; adverse effects; efficacy against strains of N . gonorrhoeae with chromosomally mediated resistance to antimicrobial agents; ease of administration; patient acceptance; and the potential for inducing resistance to antimicrobial agents in pathogens other than those causing sexually transmitted diseases . This review outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the various regimens. Sex Transm Dis, 1988 Oct-Dec, 15(4), 225 - 33 Laboratory methods for the detection and phenotypic characterization of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains resistant to antimicrobial agents; Knapp JS; Strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae that are resistant to antimicrobial agents have emerged after the use of these agents . Antimicrobial resistance can be either chromosomal or plasmid-mediated . Arbitrary methods, both agar-dilution and disk-diffusion procedures, have been developed to measure the in-vitro antimicrobial resistance of gonococcal isolates . These methods must be performed by use of standard procedures and the quality of the process must be controlled by use of reference strains with known susceptibilities . Results of antimicrobial susceptibility tests must be interpreted with caution . Phenotypic characterization of gonococcal isolates using auxotyping, serotyping, and plasmid content has permitted us to compare susceptible and resistant strains in an effort to understand the diversity of antimicrobial resistance in N . gonorrhoeae and the dynamics of epidemics of gonorrhoea associated with resistant strains. Sex Transm Dis, 1988 Oct-Dec, 15(4), 217 - 24 Antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: genetics and mechanisms of resistance; Johnson SR et al.; In recent years the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae has increased markedly . Chromosomal resistance to penicillin and tetracycline is due to the effects of one or more mutations and is generally low-level . However, the effects of these mutations are additive . Thus, the level of resistance in strains with several mutations is often high enough to yield significant rates of treatment failure . Resistance to aminoglycosides (e.g., streptomycin and kanamycin) and spectinomycin, an aminocyclitol antibiotic is not due to the inactivation of the antibiotic but to an alteration in the sensitivity of the 30S ribosomal subunit to the drug . At least five beta-lactamase plasmids of N . gonorrhoeae have been described . Some of these plasmids can be mobilized by the 24.5-MDa gonococcal conjugative plasmid and transferred to other gonococcal strains . Gonococci have recently acquired high-level resistance to tetracycline due to the streptococcal tetM determinant . This determinant is located on a 25.2-MDa plasmid that possesses a considerable degree of homology with the 24.5-MDa conjugative plasmid . The 25.2-MDa plasmid has retained the ability to transfer beta-lactamase plasmids as well as to mobilize and transfer itself to suitable recipient strains. Sex Transm Dis, 1988 Oct-Dec, 15(4), 211 - 6 Epidemiologic aspects of control of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Rothenberg R et al.; Although first identified in 1976, penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) began to have significant epidemiologic impact in the United States only after 1980 . The epidemic curve has been marked by a series of successive sigmoidal increases, the result of staggered epidemic activity in Los Angeles, California, New York, New York, and Miami . The most recent increase and current plateau has led to a provisional total of 16,608 cases for 1986, with the proportion of PPNG isolates as high as 30% in some communities . The intensity of PPNG transmission appears to parallel that of gonorrhea in general, with high attack rates in central city areas (i.e., among core groups) and with a dimmishing gradient outward from the center . The endemicity of PPNG is related in a general way to the size of the inoculum . A county experiencing seven cases in a month at the time of introduction, for example, has less than a 50% probability of reverting to zero cases during the next 12 months . It would appear that the inoculation of PPNG organisms into a community leads to a "take" when high-level transmitters of gonorrhea are affected . Though current projections suggest as many as 35,000-40,000 cases of PPNG infections by 1991, control programs that focus resources on core-group transmitters of gonorrhea may alter that course. Sex Transm Dis, 1988 Oct-Dec, 15(4), 202 - 10 Trends in resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to antimicrobial agents in the United States; Whittington WL et al.; Resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to antimicrobial agents is increasing in the United States . The number of cases of gonorrhea caused by beta-lactamase-producing strains of N . gonorrhoeae (PPNG) increased for the second consecutive year, and 16,608 were reported in 1986; these accounted for greater than 1.6% of all cases of gonorrhea . PPNG is endemic in Florida, New York City, and Los Angeles, and these areas may serve as foci for spread of PPNG strains in the United States . In 1985 N . gonorrhoeae strains that exhibited high-level resistance to tetracycline (TRNG; MIC, greater than or equal to 16.0 micrograms/ml) were reported . Tetracycline resistance was due to the tetM determinant in a 25.2-MDa tetM-conjugative plasmid . The prevalence of TRNG infections was greater than 4% in at least two communities . Strains with chromosomally-mediated resistance to several antimicrobial agents have been isolated more often; 399 cases were reported during the first half of 1986 . Spectinomycin-resistant strains have been isolated in several cities, and strains with decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone have been isolated . Phenotypic characterizations of strains of N . gonorrhoeae by auxotype and serovar, plasmid content, and antibiograms have permitted more detailed study of the heterogeneity and dynamics of strain populations . Characterization of outbreaks caused by resistant strains and surveillance of regional and temporal changes in antimicrobial resistance in gonococcal strain populations may be used in design of innovative strategies for gonorrhea control and for making anticipatory changes in recommended therapies for gonorrhea. Sex Transm Dis, 1988 Oct-Dec, 15(4), 186 - 91 A prospective randomized trial of ofloxacin vs . doxycycline in the treatment of uncomplicated male urethritis; Boslego JW et al.; One hundred fourteen men with uncomplicated urethritis were randomized to receive 1 week of therapy with either doxycycline (100 mg twice daily) or ofloxacin (300 mg twice daily) . Of the 109 men completing the post-treatment visit, 56 received ofloxacin and 52 (93%) were clinically cured . Forty four (83%) of the 53 men treated with doxycycline were cured . All 30 patients with gonorrhea (including three with penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae {PPNG} isolates) who were treated with ofloxacin became culture-negative, as compared with 32 of 34 patients receiving doxycycline . In contrast, three of 18 patients with Chlamydia trachomatis were microbiologic failures after ofloxacin therapy, while all ten treated with doxycycline were cured . Adverse effects of both treatment regimens were generally mild, and compliance was excellent except for one patient receiving doxycycline . These results show that ofloxacin, in a dosage of 300 mg taken orally twice daily for seven days, is an effective treatment for uncomplicated urethritis in men but may not reliably cure chlamydial infections. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Oct, (10), 52 - 5 {The composition of immune sera against Neisseria meningitidis studied by high-performance liquid chromatography}; Filatova TN et al.; The comparative study of the composition of immune rabbit sera to N . meningitidis, as well as nonimmune sera, has been made by the methods of HPLC and radial immunodiffusion . The quantitative evaluation of the main serum proteins by the two methods has shown the coincidence of the results yielded by these methods . To study the total level of IgM and IgG in the sera under study, a simple and rapid HPLC technique is proposed . The study of the stability of sera during storage (at 4-6 degrees C) has revealed that immune sera show greater stability during storage under such conditions in comparison with sera obtained from nonimmune animals. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1988 Oct, 22 Suppl D, 223 - 5 Fleroxacin versus standard therapy in gonococcal urethritis; Lassus A et al.; Eighty male patients with gonococcal urethritis were randomly allocated to receive, in an open study, either a single oral 400 mg dose of fleroxacin, or, as standard therapy, a single intramuscular dose of 2.4 million units of penicillin G plus 1.0 g of probenecid orally . Microbiological analysis of the urethral smear and complete physical examination with blood and midstream urine samples was carried out before and after therapy (day 7 or 8) . Urethral Neisseria gonorrhoeae was the only pathogen in 50 patients while 29 presented with mixed infections of both N . gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis . In one case, the culture was not positive for either of the pathogens . N . gonorrhoeae was eradicated by both regimens in all 78 evaluable patients . However, the 29 patients with mixed infections remained clinically symptomatic and still showed C . trachomatis irrespective of the treatment regimen . Two patients failed to return for follow-up . No adverse reactions were reported. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1988 Oct, 22(4), 463 - 71 The effect of media on antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Woodford N et al.; We have investigated the effect of four different media on the results of susceptibility tests for clinical and reference strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Diagnostic Sensitivity Test (DST) agar supplemented with 5% lysed horse blood and 1% IsoVitaleX was regarded as the 'standard' and three other media were compared with it--DST plus 5% lysed blood, GC agar supplemented with 1% IsoVitaleX and Proteose agar plus 1% haemoglobin and 1% IsoVitaleX . We found no significant differences between the two DST media when testing penicillin, cefuroxime, tetracycline or erythromycin . Proteose agar compared well with the 'standard' for all antibiotics except erythromycin for which MICs were significantly increased . GC agar showed the poorest agreement with the 'standard' medium . Gonococci appeared more sensitive to tetracycline and less sensitive to erythromycin on this medium . The use of GC agar did not significantly affect susceptibilities to the beta-lactam agents tested, although MICs measured on GC agar did tend to be higher than on the 'standard' DST medium. Genitourin Med, 1988 Oct, 64(5), 303 - 7 Characterisation by plasmid profiles, serogroups, and auxotypes of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from Harare, Zimbabwe; Mason PR et al.; (ABSTRACTOne hundred and fifty five strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were regrown from 216 freeze dried cultures originally isolated in Zimbabwe . The gonococci were from men (61 strains) and women (39 strains) attending a referral sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic, from women presenting for delivery at hospital with signs of sepsis (22 strains) or with an asymptomatic infection (16 strains), and from babies with ophthalmia neonatorum (17 strains) . Seventy five of the 100 isolates from STD clinic patients and 29 of the 55 isolates from hospital patients were penicillinase producing N gonorrhoeae (PPNG) . Two thirds of all PPNG strains contained the 24.5 megadalton conjugative plasmid . The 3.2 megadalton resistance plasmid, usually associated with PPNG strains originating in Africa, was present in only one third of the PPNG strains . The 2.6 megadalton cryptic plasmid was present in all strains . Prototrophic and proline requiring auxotypes predominated in both PPNG and non-PPNG strains . Arginine requiring auxotypes were found in four of the 16 isolates from asymptomatic women, whereas three of the 22 strains from women with puerperal sepsis and four of the 61 strains from men with urethritis required both proline and arginine . Fifty eight out of 66 PPNG strains with the 4.4 megadalton plasmid required proline compared with 22/38 PPNG strains with the 3.2 megadalton plasmid and 20 of the 51 non-PPNG strains . Three quarters (38/51) of non-PPNG strains belonged to serogroup WII/III as did 42/66 PPNG strains with the 4.4 megadalton plasmid but only 10/38 PPNG strains with the 3.2 megadalton plasmid . In all, 23 different strain types could be recognized on the basis of plasmid content, auxotype, and serogroup . There was, however, a high degree of homogeneity between PPNG and non-PPNG isolates. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1988 Oct, 7(5), 635 - 8 Chlamydia trachomatis genital infections in Tahiti; Chungue E et al.; The rate of Chlamydia trachomatis infection was determined in three populations in Tahiti by means of a direct immunofluorescence test performed in specimens, tissue culture and detection of chlamydial antibody in serum specimens using a single-serotype indirect immunofluorescence test . Chlamydia trachomatis was recovered in 53% of 53 bar girls, 24% of 75 women attending a public maternity clinic for routine care, and 37% of 71 men attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic with acute or subacute urethritis . The presence of chlamydial antibody in a high proportion of the groups studied confirmed the high frequency of chlamydial infections (62.3%, 66.6% and 83.1% respectively) . Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection was often associated with chlamydial infection in both bar girls and men with urethritis (11.4% and 18.3% respectively) . With regard to clinical manifestations, 58.3% (7/12) of bar girls and 23.2% (10/43) women at the maternity clinic without clinical complaints were found to be Chlamydia trachomatis-positive . The presence of Chlamydia trachomatis in these asymptomatic persons highlights their important role in spread of this organism in Tahiti . The findings indicate that routine testing for Chlamydia trachomatis is warranted in patients attending the sexually transmitted disease and public maternity clinics in Tahiti. APMIS, 1988 Oct, 96(10), 941 - 9 A reference procedure to study chemiluminescence induced in polymorphonuclear leukocytes by Neisseria meningitidis; Fredlund H et al.; Luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) was used to study the ability of various strains of Neisseria meningitidis (MC) to induce oxidative metabolism of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL); an indirect measure of phagocytic activity . To circumvent variations related to different PMNL donors, a MC serogroup X strain was used as a control for indexing the CL responses induced by other MC strains . This procedure, with pooled serum from healthy blood donors to standardize opsonising conditions, gave reproducible and comparable results, irrespective of PMNL donors . Under these conditions, there was a highly significant difference between pathogenic and non-pathogenic MC strains as regards their ability to induce CL responses (p less than 0.001) . The results indicated that the differences were due partly to opsonizing antibodies, partly to other differences related to pathogenicity of tested MC strains . These differences in leukocyte/MC interaction were also confirmed by phagocytic-killing experiments . The index procedure of CL measurements may be a suitable method to study the appearance of natural immunity to MC disease, as well as the pathogenicity of particular MC strains. Clin Microbiol Rev, 1988 Oct, 1(4), 415 - 31 Historical perspectives and identification of Neisseria and related species; Knapp JS; The pathogenic Neisseria spp., N . gonorrhoeae and N . meningitidis, have been studied extensively and rapid identification procedures have been designed to distinguish these species from the commensal Neisseria and related species that are normal flora of the oro- and nasopharynx . The commensal Neisseria spp . have been largely ignored except for isolated studies . It is important that we know about these species, however, because not only may some be misidentified as pathogenic species if identified with inappropriate procedures, but also they may occasionally be isolated from unusual sites and must be correctly identified to the species level for clinical purposes. Sex Transm Dis, 1988 Oct-Dec, 15(4), 196 - 9 Antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from a military population in San Diego; Papadimos TJ et al.; Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates were studied to determine their patterns of antimicrobial susceptibility and possible chemotherapeutic implications . Of 370 consecutive isolates, 32 (8.7%) were penicillinase-producing N . gonorrhoeae (PPNG) . The remaining 338 were subjected to disk-diffusion tests, and those apparently resistant to penicillin, tetracycline, or spectinomycin were tested by an agar-dilution method . The dilution test showed that 5.4% (20/370) were penicillin-resistant, non-PPNG strains, of which 100%, 90%, and 45% were also resistant to tetracycline, cefoxitin, and erythromycin, respectively . No resistance to spectinomycin or ceftriaxone was demonstrated, although there was an association between minimum inhibitor concentrations (MICs) of penicillin of greater than or equal to 1.0 microgram/ml and increased MICs of ceftriaxone . The overall incidence of penicillin resistant isolates, including PPNG, was 14.1% (52/370) . Of the 20 penicillin-resistant, non-PPNG strains, all were also resistant to tetracycline, and another 21 exhibited tetracycline resistance but were sensitive to penicillin . The in-vitro data suggested that: (1) neither penicillin, tetracycline, nor cefoxitin were acceptable drugs for routine treatment of gonorrhea in our population during the study period; (2) spectinomycin and ceftriaxone continue to demonstrate adequate in-vitro activity against N . gonorrhoeae despite increasing in-vitro resistance to penicillin; and (3) non-plasmid-mediated resistance to penicillin may predict future resistance to ceftriaxone. Carbohydr Res, 1988 Oct 1, 181, 163 - 74 Neisseria perflava amylosucrase: characterization of its product polysaccharide and a study of its inhibition by sucrose derivatives; Tao BY et al.; Neisseria perflava amylosucrase forms from sucrose a polysaccharide very similar to glycogen, except that a larger proportion of its D-glucosyl residues are in short branches . Iodine staining of samples taken during polysaccharide formation indicate that the initial product is less branched than that formed at longer times . This glycogen-like polysaccharide has an estimated molecular mass range of 1 MD to 20 MD . Sucrose derivatives modified at C-3 (3-deoxysucrose and alpha-D-allopyranosyl beta-D-fructofuranoside), C-6 (6-deoxysucrose and 6-deoxy-6-fluorosucrose), and both C-4 and C-6 (4,6-dideoxysucrose) were tested as inhibitors of amylosucrase . Derivatives modified at C-6 were potent competitive inhibitors, with Ki values of 6.2 +/- 0.3 mM (6-deoxysucrose) and 0.50 +/- 0.06 mM (6-deoxy-6-fluorosucrose) . The KM value of sucrose is 26.5 +/- 4.6 mM . Sucrose derivatives modified at C-3 were not significantly inhibitory over the concentration range tested . 4,6-Dideoxysucrose gave an unusual, non-competitive inhibition, in that, increasing its concentration did not produce a commensurate increase in the level of inhibition, which instead appeared to approach a limit . None of these sucrose derivatives was a substrate for amylosucrase, nor were they glycosyl donors to maltotriose. Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 1988 Oct, 27(2), 177 - 80 Sexually transmitted diseases in women with urethral syndrome; Vitoratos N et al.; Frequency of micturition and dysuria were prominent symptoms in 135 (57%) of 237 women with urethral syndrome . Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis and Chlamydia trachomatis were the principal organisms associated with the urethral syndrome (38.41%, 28.14% and 11.11%, respectively) . Escherichia coli was cultured from four patients and Herepes genitalis and Neisseria gonorrhoea were isolated from five patients . Infections with more than one organism were frequent . Thirty-one of 135 patients were infected by two organisms, 27 by three and 4 patients by four microorganisms . Vaginitis due to Garnerella vaginalis, Candida spp . and Trichomonas vaginalis was discovered in 52 (39%) of 135 patients. J Gen Microbiol, 1988 Oct, 134 ( Pt 10), 2703 - 11 Nonbactericidal antibodies against Neisseria gonorrhoeae: evaluation of their blocking effect on bactericidal antibodies directed against outer membrane antigens; Virji M et al.; Nonbactericidal monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against gonococcal surface antigens were examined for their effect on complement-mediated bactericidal killing by other MAbs and normal human serum . One MAb, SM73, directed against the H.8 antigen activated complement only moderately well and had little influence on bactericidal antibodies . Two antibodies directed against an epitope on protein III had very different effects . Antibody SM51 activated complement poorly and had no effect on bactericidal killing, whereas antibody SM50, although itself nonbactericidal, activated complement and blocked the bactericidal effect of other antibodies . The extent of the blocking ability of MAb SM50 was studied using MAbs of different specificities as well as polyclonal antisera raised against gonococcal surface antigens . Antibody SM50 blocked IgG MAbs of all specificities, but several MAbs of the IgM class retained their bactericidal effect . Each of these IgM MAbs reacted with lipopolysaccharide, but with different epitopes. Infect Immun, 1988 Oct, 56(10), 2631 - 8 Electromorphic characterization and description of conserved epitopes of the lipooligosaccharides of group A Neisseria meningitidis; Kim JJ et al.; We studied the lipooligosaccharides (LOS) of 28 group A Neisseria meningitidis of epidemiologically diverse origins to investigate whether each of the LOS serotypes found in serogroup A could be identified physically as well as antigenically . Using a dot blot assay with LOS-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), we identified four epitopes that were serotype specific . The LOS from strains of each serotype were electromorphically and antigenically distinct when analyzed by silver-stained sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting . The LOS of L8 strains contained a 3,600-Mr component that bound the L8 MAb . The LOS of L9 strains contained two major components of 4,500 and 4,200 Mr . They bound the L9 MAb to the larger component . The LOS of L10 strains had a single major component of 4,000 Mr that bound the L10 MAb . The LOS of L11 strains contained a major 3,600-Mr component that could not be distinguished from the 3,600-Mr LOS of L8 strains by SDS-PAGE but that bound the L11 MAb . LOS of group A strains contained a highly conserved epitope in addition to a serotype-specific epitope . This was identified by a MAb that bound to all the strains on dot-blots and to multiple LOS components of various Mrs on immunoblots . We conclude that the LOS which bear the L9, L10, and L11 determinants are physically distinct and can be identified by SDS-PAGE or MAb binding or both . L8 and L11 are both borne on a 3.6-kilodalton LOS and can only be distinguished serologically. J Biol Chem, 1988 Sep 5, 263(25), 12194 - 8 A family of small repeated elements with some transposon-like properties in the genome of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Correia FF et al.; A physical technique known as two-dimensional S1 nuclease heteroduplex mapping has been applied to genomic DNA from the Gram-negative coccus Neisseria gonorrhoeae . This has resulted in the detection of two novel types of repetitive sequences . The first type is a repetitive sequence family of 152 base pairs (bp), whose ends are composed of inverted repeats of 26 bp . There are approximately 20 copies of this sequence, in both N . gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis (Correia, F., Inouye, S., and Inouye, M . (1986) J . Bacteriol . 167, 1009-1011) . The second type of sequence is a 1443-bp duplication in the N . gonorrhoeae genome . The two classes of sequence are linked positionally . Each copy of the long duplicated sequence is adjacent to a member of the 152-bp repetitive sequence . In one instance two copies of the 152-bp repetitive sequence are separated by a 436-bp central region and are in an inverted orientation with respect to one another, resembling a compound transposable element. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1988 Sep, 22 Suppl C, 149 - 53 The efficacy of ofloxacin against infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis; Richmond SJ et al.; Ofloxacin was used to treat patients with gonorrhoea and/or Chlamydia trachomatis infection . Gonorrhoea was treated with a single 400 mg dose and chlamydial infection with a seven day course (200 mg bd) . Fifty of 84 patients with gonorrhoea (60 men and 24 women) returned for two follow-up examinations 7 and 14 days after treatment, 17 patients returned for only one follow-up examination and 17 defaulted . Neisseria gonorrhoeae was re-isolated from three patients who had probably become re-infected . Treatment was successful in 64 patients, 58 of whom were assessed after a single 400 mg dose of ofloxacin . Chlamydial infection was identified in 30 patients with gonorrhoea (13 men and 17 women) and in 35 other patients (17 men and 18 women) . C . trachomatis was not recovered from any of the 49 patients who returned for two follow-up examinations, or from the ten patients who attended for one follow-up visit only . Sixteen patients did not return for follow-up examination . Our results suggest a seven day course of ofloxacin would eradicate N . gonorrhoeae and C . trachomatis in patients infected with both organisms . Such treatment may be advisable in patients with gonorrhoea if microbiological tests for C . trachomatis are not available. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1988 Sep, 32(9), 1430 - 2 Transfer of beta-lactamase plasmids from Neisseria gonorrhoeae to Neisseria meningitidis and commensal Neisseria species by the 25.2-megadalton conjugative plasmid; Roberts MC et al.; Two highly tetracycline-resistant, beta-lactamase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains were used as donors for conjugation with Neisseria meningitidis and commensal Neisseria species . We found that both strains were able to transfer the 4.4- and 3.2-megadalton beta-lactamase plasmids to the recipients tested, with frequencies between 10(-1) and 10(-9). Anal Biochem, 1988 Sep, 173(2), 307 - 16 Purification of outer membrane proteins of the gram-negative bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Judd RC; A system of protein purification, using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electroblotting, that results in purified outer membrane proteins of the gram-negative bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae is described . The proteins, which ranged in apparent molecular mass from approximately 31,000 to approximately 92,000 Da, were located by naphthol blue black staining, eluted from nitrocellulose membranes using 88% formic acid, and precipitated by the addition of concentrated ammonium hydroxide . Up to 65% of the original protein present was recovered by this procedure . The resultant purified protein could then be resuspended in aqueous buffer by brief sonication, making it available for further structural and in vivo immunological analyses . Proteins purified in this manner retain their original antigenicity when probed with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, and are structurally unaltered by the purification process . This procedure makes it possible to acquire easily usable quantities of highly insoluble outer membrane proteins of gram-negative bacteria. J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Sep, 26(9), 1898 - 900 Serum antibody response to the 70,000-molecular-weight neisserial common antigen in humans infected by Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Aoun L et al.; We evaluated the presence of antibodies directed against a 70,000-molecular-weight (70K) common neisserial antigen in sera from patients with first or repeated gonococcal infections and in sera from healthy controls . Sera were taken as soon as possible after the onset of disease, and anti-70K antibodies were detected by Western blot (immunoblot) . Results show that significantly fewer patients with gonococcal infection possessed anti-70K antibodies than controls (P less than 0.001) . This suggests a possible role of anti-70K antibodies in natural immunity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1988 Sep, 22 Suppl C, 21 - 5 In-vitro activity of ofloxacin against isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; McEwen A et al.; A total of 1186 clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were tested for in-vitro disc susceptibility to ofloxacin, one of the new generation of fluorinated quinolones . All isolates appeared susceptible . Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined for a random sample of 122 strains and all were equal to or less than 0.02 mg/l. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1988 Sep, 85(18), 6982 - 6 Identification and arrangement of the DNA sequence recognized in specific transformation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Goodman SD et al.; DNA segments from Neisseria gonorrhoeae, cloned and propagated in Escherichia coli, were tested for the ability to competitively inhibit gonococcal transformation . The nucleotide sequences of active segments were determined and compared; these sequences contained the sequence 5' GCCGTCTGAA 3' in common . Subcloning studies confirmed the identity of this sequence as the gonococcal DNA recognition site . The three instances of the recognition sequence isolated from N . gonorrhoeae chromosomal DNA contain the sequence in the immediate neighborhood of its inverted repeat . Because a single copy of the sequence functions as a recognition site, the inverted duplication is not required for specific binding . The dyad symmetric arrangements of the chromosomal recognition sequences may form stable stem-loop structures that can function as terminators or attenuators of transcription . These inverted repeats are located at the boundaries of long open reading frames . The recognition sequence also constitutes part of two other probable terminators of gonococcal genes . We conclude that the signal for recognition of transforming DNA by gonococci is a frequent component of transcriptional terminator sequences . This regulatory function might account for the origin and maintenance of recognition sequences in the chromosomes of Gram-negative transformable bacteria. Infect Immun, 1988 Sep, 56(9), 2512 - 4 Induced engulfment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by tissue culture cells; Richardson WP et al.; Engulfment of gonococci by mammalian tissue culture cells was examined as a model of the penetration of host cells in gonorrhea . Engulfment required viable organisms; killing the gonococci with heat or refrigeration abolished the process . Engulfment also required tissue culture cell microtubule- and microfilament-dependent movement; treating the cells with cytochalasin B (0.5 micrograms/ml) or demecolcine (Colcemid; Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland) (10 micrograms/ml) also prevented his process. Clin Orthop, 1988 Sep, (234), 209 - 10 Neisseria gonorrhoeae foot abscess . A case report; Speer KP et al.; A cutaneous abscess involving Neisseria gonorrhoeae is extremely rare outside the perineum . Such remote lesions are a result of disseminated gonococcal disease . A 12-year-old girl with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita developed a gonococcal abscess on the plantar aspect of her lateral forefoot after a two-week prodrome of pain, erythema, and swelling . The infection was successfully treated with open drainage, acetic acid dressing changes, and the administration of penicillin. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Sep, (9), 33 - 40 {Species-forming involution of pathogenic bacteria as a biological pattern (exemplified by bacteria of the genus Moraxella)}; Kalina GP; The author advances a hypothesis stating that a species disappearing as a result of new conditions evolving in a colonized animal or human body, unfavorable for the existence of this species, does not become extinct, but reverts into newly developing species due to the loss of its properties and acquiring new properties corresponding to new conditions . Thus the genus is preserved through the loss of species characteristics by individual organisms . The advanced hypothesis is substantiated by the analysis of the relevant processes observed in cases of infectious keratoconjunctivitis in humans and cattle, caused by bacteria of the genus Moraxella . The data indicating the possibility of such reversion in the genera Neisseria and Bordetella are presented. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1988 Sep, 41(9), 1243 - 52 A40926 aglycone and pseudoaglycones: preparation and biological activity; Selva E et al.; A40926 antibiotics are new glycopeptides which are much more active than other members of this class against Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Their activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including coagulase-negative Staphylococci, is similar to that of other glycopeptides . An A40926 preparation containing factors A and B ("A40926 A + B complex") was hydrolyzed to the aglycone and to the mannosyl and N-acylaminoglucuronyl aglycones . The mannosyl aglycone and the aglycone were less active than A40926 A + B complex against Streptococci and Gram-positive anaerobes and lost the anti-gonorrheal activity . In contrast, the N-acylaminoglucuronyl aglycones were as active as the parent complex against these Gram-positive bacteria and were moderately active against N . gonorrhoeae . The aglycone and, even more so, the N-acylaminoglucuronyl aglycones, had better activity than the parent complex against coagulase-negative Staphylococci . In experimental septicemia in the mouse, A40926 A + B complex and its derivatives had activity proportional to their MIC for the test organism. J Clin Pathol, 1988 Sep, 41(9), 978 - 82 Susceptibility testing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to penicillin and spectinomycin in a diagnostic laboratory; Gill MJ et al.; Agar dilution breakpoint susceptibility testing using GC, DST, and proteose agars, was performed on consecutive clinical isolates of non-penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae to examine the feasibility of using such a system in a diagnostic laboratory . The incidence and level of resistance to penicillin and spectinomycin was also assessed . On DST medium 93 of 200 (46.5%) of isolates were of intermediate resistance to penicillin (MIC 0.12-0.5 mg/l) and 21 of 200 (10.5%) were resistant to penicillin (MIC greater than or equal to 1.0 mg/l) . Ninety two of 200 (46%) of isolates had an MIC to spectinomycin of 32 mg/l on DST agar . Isolates seemed to be more resistant when tested on the two other media . The methods used in this study could be applied in a routine diagnostic laboratory for immediate clinical benefit and long term epidemiological studies . To enable direct comparisons to be made between populations at different centres, however, methods for gonococcal susceptibility testing need to be standardised. J Infect Dis, 1988 Sep, 158(3), 518 - 23 A clinical trial of nonoxynol-9 for preventing gonococcal and chlamydial infections; Louv WC et al.; A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the spermicidal agent nonoxynol-9 as prophylaxis for cervical infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Eight hundred eighteen women were recruited from a sexually transmitted disease clinic . Only subjects who were using reliable birth control methods (oral contraceptives, intrauterine device, or sterilization) were eligible . Subjects were randomly assigned to use either a commercially available spermicidal agent containing nonoxynol-9 or a placebo preparation . Subjects were followed up for six months; specimens were collected monthly for culture of the two pathogens . Women assigned to the nonoxynol-9 group were less likely to become infected with N . gonorrhoeae (relative rate, 0.75; 90% confidence limits, 0.58 and 0.96) and C . trachomatis (relative rate, 0.79; 90% confidence limits, 0.64 and 0.97) . Among women who used their assigned gel for the majority of coital episodes, a stronger protective effect was observed. Ann Inst Pasteur Microbiol, 1988 Sep-Oct, 139(5), 515 - 25 The envelope structure of Branhamella catarrhalis as studied by transmission electron microscopy; Hellio R et al.; The envelope structure of Branhamella catarrhalis was studied by electron microscopy and compared with that of other bacteria of the family Neisseriaceae, such as Moraxella lacunata subsp . liquefaciens and Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Negative staining of B . catarrhalis showed a mamilliform surface similar to that of Moraxella . On thin sections, the cell wall appeared to be made up of a wavy outer membrane tightly linked to a straight peptidoglycan layer . Spicule-like structures protruded from the cell surface . Ruthenium red staining revealed that they contained polysaccharides . While the outer polysaccharide layer of N . gonorrhoeae was unstable after repeated subcultures in vitro, this layer remained stable in B . catarrhalis and in Moraxella lacunata subsp . liquefaciens. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1988 Sep, 85(18), 6841 - 5 Genetics of protein I of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: construction of hybrid porins; Carbonetti NH et al.; Protein I (PI), the major outer membrane protein of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is a porin and occurs in two major immunochemical classes, A and B . By using shuttle mutagenesis to insert a selectable marker close to the PI structural gene, evidence was obtained from transformation experiments to demonstrate that the PI structural gene is equivalent to the defined locus nmp and that the genes for PI class A and PI class B are alleles of the same locus . The PI class B gene of strain MS11 was cloned and sequenced, and comparison of this sequence with the gene sequence of PI class A of FA19 revealed a number of regions of significant divergence . By selection for the closely linked marker in transformations between the two strains, a series of strains with a hybrid PI was obtained . Analysis of these strains with monoclonal antibodies and oligonucleotides specific to PI class A or PI class B elucidated the nature and location of some of the surface-exposed epitopes, a thorough characterization of which is a prerequisite for understanding the role of PI in gonococcal pathogenesis and its possible use as a component of a vaccine. J Infect Dis, 1988 Sep, 158(3), 529 - 36 Neisseria gonorrhoeae recombinant strains expressing hybrid serological reactivities of outer membrane proteins IA and IB; Shinners EN et al.; The inheritance of epitopes of protein I, the principal protein of the outer membrane of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, was investigated by DNA-mediated transformation . Protein I transformants were isolated by selection for the linked spectinomycin-resistance determinant . Twelve monoclonal antibodies used in coagglutination tests identified epitopes of the two forms of protein I (P.IA and P.IB) . A given gonococcal culture from patients expresses epitopes of either P.IA or P.IB and rarely, if ever, exhibits hybrid P.IA/P.IB reactivities . Nevertheless, we found 35 P.IA/P.IB recombinants among 1506 transformants . Transmission by DNA of the hybrid reactivities and the apparent molecular mass characteristic of a given P.IA/P.IB species verified the genetic basis of the phenotypic changes . A recombinant that expressed six P.IA and two P.IB epitopes is of interest as a possible component of a gonococcal vaccine, because one or more of these epitopes are shared with 99.8% of a worldwide collection of 1858 clinical strains. Am J Epidemiol, 1988 Aug, 128(2), 298 - 308 Factors related to genital Chlamydia trachomatis and its diagnosis by culture in a sexually transmitted disease clinic; Magder LS et al.; The authors cultured 2,320 patients who attended the Denver Metro Health Clinic for Sexually Transmitted Diseases from September 1981 to June 1983 to determine clinical and epidemiologic factors associated with genital chlamydial infection . Among consecutive heterosexual men with urethral discharge, 226 of 849 (27%) had positive urethral cultures, with rates significantly lower among those with profuse (18%) or purulent (19%) discharges, and higher (37%) among those with symptoms for more than seven days . In a subgroup of men without gonococci, those who had polymorphonuclear leukocytes on smear had higher isolation rates (33%) than those who did not (3%) . Among consecutive female patients, 172 of 1,031 (17%) had positive cervical cultures, with rates significantly lower in those who were white (13%), married (7%), or using a diaphragm (0 of 77), and higher in those who were positive for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (38%) . There was a marginally significant increased rate of chlamydial isolation among oral contraceptive users only for women aged 20 years or younger . Younger age was significantly associated with chlamydial isolation in both men and women after controlling for sexual activity and other factors . Various patient characteristics can be combined to define subgroups of men and women, with rates of isolation ranging from under 4% to over 60% . These results can be useful in deciding whom to test and whom to treat presumptively in a public health settingPIP: To increase knowledge of the prevalence of genital chlamydia trachomatis infection and the associated epidemiologic and clinical factors, cultures were obtained from 2320 patients at a Denver clinic for sexually transmitted diseases . Specific subsamples examined included 96 consecutive male clinic attendees with no urethral discharge on examination, 1193 consecutive male attendees with urethral discharge, and 1031 consecutive female attendees . Only 4 (4%) of the men attending the clinic who did not have a discharge on examination were positive for chlamydial infection compared with 275 (23%) of men with a discharge . Of the men with discharge, the isolation rate of chlamydia was 27% among heterosexuals but only 14% among homosexuals and bisexuals . Of the female attendees cultured, 172 (17%) had positive cervical findings . Younger age was associated with chlamydial infection in both men and women even after controlling for sexual activity . In a subgroup of men without gonococci, those who had polymorphonuclear leukocytes on smear had higher isolation rates (33%) than those who did not (3%) . Among women, chlamydia rates were significantly lower for whites (13%), married women (7%), and diaphragm users (0%) . There was a marginally significant increased rate of chlamydial isolation among oral contraceptive users only for women aged 20 years or below . Significantly fewer (18%) men with profuse discharge were positive for chlamydial infection compared with men with a scant or moderate discharge (27% and 31%, respectively), and those with a purulent discharge were less likely to be positive than men with a clear or white discharge . Stepwise multiple logistic regression suggested the following risk factors for chlamydial infection in men: polymorphonuclear leukocytes, gram-stained smear negative for intracellular diplococci, age under 25 years, history of discharge, discharge for more than 7 days, and no dysuria . Risk factors for women included age less than 25 years, unmarried status, gonorrhea, an abnormal cervix, pelvic inflammatory disease, and no recent antibiotic use . J Pediatr Surg, 1988 Aug, 23(8), 714 - 7 Staging laparotomy for Hodgkin's disease in children; Schneeberger AL et al.; Staging laparotomy in patients with Hodgkin's disease continues to be a controversial procedure in their management . Between 1970 and 1986, 67 patients up to 18 years of age were seen with Hodgkin's disease . The results of staging laparotomy performed on 39 of these children are reviewed . The clinical stage was changed as a result of laparotomy in 43.6% of cases, with 12.8% of cases upstaged and 30.8% of cases downstaged . All changes in stage modified the proposed treatment for the patient . In 20.5% of patients the laparotomy was positive, and in all cases the spleen was involved . Preoperative lymphangiography did not accurately identify nodal disease . Of the patients with negative laparotomies, 10% developed relapse in the abdomen . Major complications included three episodes of bacterial sepsis, with one death due to Streptococcal pneumonia and one to Neisseria gonorrhea . All septic events occurred prior to the use of pneumococcal vaccine and prophylactic antibiotics . One patient required reoperation for intestinal obstruction with bowel resection . None of the currently used noninvasive tests accurately identifies intraabdominal disease . Therefore, staging laparotomy continues to play an important role in the early management of Hodgkin's disease. Genitourin Med, 1988 Aug, 64(4), 233 - 4 In vitro activity of eight antimicrobial agents against non-penicillinase-producing gonococci isolated in Munich; Abeck D et al.; The susceptibility of 119 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in Munich in 1986 to eight antibiotics was assessed . Although some degree of resistance to penicillin and tetracycline, as well as high minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of spectinomycin, were observed, all the strains were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, fleroxacin, cefotaxime, and FCE 22250. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1988 Aug, 159(2), 397 - 404 The association of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and group B streptococci with preterm rupture of the membranes and pregnancy outcome; Alger LS et al.; There is conflicting evidence regarding a possible causal role for Chlamydia trachomatis in the development of preterm premature rupture of the membranes . We investigated the relative prevalence of endocervical infection with C . trachomatis and group B streptococci in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes compared with a control group taken from the same obstetric population . C . trachomatis was isolated from 23/52 (44%) patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes versus 13/84 (15%) women in the control group (p less than 0.001) . This association was independent of infection with group B streptococci or Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Group B streptococci were isolated from 16% of the patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes versus 4% of the control population (p less than 0.05) . The risk of preterm premature rupture of membranes associated with group B streptococcal infection was independent of infection with C . trachomatis and N . gonorrhoeae . Endocervical infection with C . trachomatis did not significantly affect early maternal complication rates after delivery. Am J Med, 1988 Aug, 85(2), 177 - 82 Gonorrhea in women seen for routine gynecologic care: criteria for testing; Phillips RS et al.; PURPOSE: This study was initiated to determine risk factors for Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection of the cervix in women seen for routine care in a hospital-based obstetrics and gynecology practice . PATIENTS and METHODS: Extensive clinical data and cervical culture specimens for N . gonorrhoeae were obtained prospectively from 1,441 women between the ages of 18 and 50 . Fifty clinical factors were evaluated by multivariate analysis . RESULTS: Of the 1,441 patients tested, 25 (1.7 percent) had a positive culture result . The majority of infected women were asymptomatic . The following five factors were found to be associated independently with gonococcal infection: (1) sex with a partner who may have had gonorrhea or a urethral discharge within the prior three months, (2) endocervical bleeding induced by the initial swab, (3) age at first intercourse less than or equal to 16, (4) method of payment (Medicaid), and (5) low abdominal or pelvic pain . Race, a univariate risk factor, was not associated with gonorrhea when these other factors were considered . The risk of infection for women with none, one, two, or three or more of these multivariate risk factors was 0.2, 0.8, 2.9, and 9.8 percent, respectively . CONCLUSION: Clinical data are helpful in identifying women at risk for gonorrhea . If resources are insufficient to evaluate all sexually active women, we suggest routine testing based on the presence of the multivariate risk factors identified. J Med Chem, 1988 Aug, 31(8), 1647 - 51 Substrate analogue inhibitors of the IgA1 proteinases from Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Burton J et al.; Substrate analogues based on the amino acid sequence of the hinge region of human IgA1 around the cleavage site of the IgA1 proteinases secreted by Neisseria gonorrhoeae are competitive inhibitors of these enzymes . The octapeptide Thr-Pro-Pro-Thr-Pro-Ser-Pro-Ser, which occurs between residues 233 and 240, has an IC50 value of 0.26 mM for the type 1 proteinase and 0.50 mM for the type 2 enzyme . Acetylation of the octapeptide N-terminal amino group lowers affinity for the type 1 proteinase sixfold but does not change binding to the type 2 enzyme . Amidation of the C-terminal carboxyl group does not change binding to the type 1 proteinase but improves IC50 for the type 2 enzyme . Simultaneous blockade of both the N- and C-termini drastically lowers affinity of the octapeptide for both proteinases . Sequential replacement of the hydroxy amino acids in the blocked octapeptide with cysteine yields a series of inhibitors that generally bind to the neisserial IgA1 proteinases as well as or better than the unblocked octapeptide . The most effective inhibitor contains a cysteine residue at position 6 (P3') and has an IC50 value for the type 2 IgA1 proteinase of 50 microM . Dimerization of the cysteine-containing octapeptides significantly diminishes inhibitory properties . The substrate analogues described here are the first synthetic inhibitors of the neisserial IgA1 proteinases to be reported. Obstet Gynecol, 1988 Aug, 72(2), 240 - 2 Isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis from sexually abused female adolescents; Dattel BJ et al.; Cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis were obtained from 127 female adolescents (13-17 years of age) evaluated for reported sexual abuse . The rate of positive cultures for C trachomatis in this population was 14% (18 of 127) . Neisseria gonorrhoeae was found in 12% (15 of 127) of these patients . All but two of the culture-positive patients admitted sexual activity before the abuse, and it is likely that most of the infections were acquired during this previous sexual activity . Concomitant infection with N gonorrhoeae was found in seven adolescents positive for C trachomatis . No adolescents in this study exhibited a positive VDRL . Victims of abuse should be tested for both gonococcal and chlamydial infection . These data show that if antibiotic prophylaxis is used for the sexually abused adolescent, it should be directed against both C trachomatis and N gonorrhoeae. Genitourin Med, 1988 Aug, 64(4), 235 - 40 Single dose oral norfloxacin or intramuscular spectinomycin to treat gonorrhoea (PPNG and non-PPNG infections): analysis of efficacy and patient preference; Panikabutra K et al.; Norfloxacin, a new oral quinolone, was compared with intramuscular spectinomycin for treating culture proved gonorrhoea (caused by penicillinase producing strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) and non-PPNG strains . A total of 547 infected men and women were randomly allocated to treatment with either single dose norfloxacin (800 mg by mouth) or spectinomycin (2 g intramuscularly) . Patient preference for tablets or injections was noted at this visit . Patients returned four to eight days later for assessment of efficacy, safety, and preference . Of the 482 patients who attended follow up, all those treated with norfloxacin (94 infected with PPNG strains, 145 with non-PPNG strains) and all 82 infected with PPNG strains and treated with spectinomycin were cured . Of 161 infected with non-PPNG strains and treated with spectinomycin, 159 (99%) were cured . Side effects (headache, nausea, and sleepiness) occurred in three patients receiving norfloxacin and in 17 (16 pain at injection site, 1 giddiness) receiving spectinomycin . Most patients preferred tablets to injection both on day 1 (313 v 200) and at follow up (373 v 104) . This study showed that norfloxacin was a highly effective alternative to spectinomycin, produced fewer side effects, and was the preferred mode of administration. Genitourin Med, 1988 Aug, 64(4), 226 - 32 Genotypes and phenotypes of beta lactamase producing strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from African countries; Falk ES et al.; The phenotypes and genotypes of 26 beta lactamase (penicillinase) producing strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) from African countries were investigated . Using the restriction enzyme technique nine different restriction enzyme patterns were found, two of them in 15 strains . Of the 26 strains, 16 belonged to serogroup WI (containing protein type IA) and 10 to serogroup WII/III (containing protein IB) . Among the IA strains four different serovars were represented, whereas six serovars were found among the IB strains . Five different auxotypes were identified, of which proline requiring (found in 12 strains) and prototrophic (found in 10 strains) dominated . Twelve strains harboured a 4.4 megadalton as well as a 24.5 megadalton plasmid . A 3.2 megadalton plasmid was found in 14 strains, one of which also harboured a 24.5 megadalton plasmid . The 2.8 megadalton cryptic plasmid was present in all 26 strains . The MICs of doxycycline ranged from 0.25 to 2.0 mg/l; the MIC 50% for WI strains was 0.25 mg/l and for WII/WIII strains 1.0 mg/l . A total of 10 different combinations of restriction enzyme pattern, serovar, auxotype, and plasmid were seen in the 16 WI strains compared with eight such combinations in the 10 WII/WIII strains . As expected, the restriction enzyme technique and serological classification gave better differentiation than plasmid profiles and susceptibility to doxycycline . More relevantly, however, these techniques also compared favourably with auxotyping . When the different systems were combined, the sensitivity was greatly increased. Mol Immunol, 1988 Aug, 25(8), 799 - 809 Epitope expression of gonococcal lipooligosaccharide (LOS) . Importance of the lipoidal moiety for expression of an epitope that exists in the oligosaccharide moiety of LOS; Yamasaki R et al.; Antigenic expression of lipooligosaccharide (LOS) of strain F62 of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, was investigated with mouse monoclonal IgM antibody 3F11 . F62 LOS was modified in various ways in order to understand structural requirements for expression of the 3F11-defined epitope . When the LOS was partially deacylated by treating it with 50 mM NaOH at 80 degrees C for 20 min or with anhydrous hydrazine at 80 degrees C for 20 min, the binding of 3F11 to those deacylated LOS samples decreased significantly . Removal of phosphate groups by treatment of the LOS with HF (4 days at 4 degrees C) did not affect the antigenicity at all . Neither did reduction of carboxyl groups in the LOS molecule (by activation of carboxyl groups with a carbodiimide followed by treatment with NaBH4) alter epitope expression . On oxidation with NaIO4, the LOS lost its antigenicity completely . The presence of Mg2+ did not change the circular dichroism (CD) behavior of F62 LOS . However, the partially deacylated LOS samples showed significantly different CD patterns in the 190-200 nm region compared with F62 LOS, which suggests conformational changes of F62 LOS due to the loss of fatty acids in the lipoidal moiety . Oligosaccharide (OS) and lipoidal components obtained after hydrolysis of F62 LOS with 1% acetic acid, were not recognized by the antibody . The antigenicity of OS was not retained by non-stereospecific acylation of OS with decanoyl chloride . We conclude the following: (1) 3F11-defined epitope exists in the OS moiety of F62 LOS; however, for it to be expressed, the carbohydrate moiety must be in a certain conformation that is defined by an overall structure of the LOS molecule . This structure is significantly influenced by some of the fatty acids in the lipoidal moiety of the LOS molecule; (2) the presence of phosphate or 3-deoxy-manno-2-octulosonic acid (dOclA) is not essential for expression of the 3F11-defined epitope; (3) the presence of divalent cations does not affect epitope expression. APMIS, 1988 Aug, 96(8), 735 - 40 Attempts to demonstrate a polysaccharide capsule in Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Reimann K et al.; The presence or absence of a polysaccharide capsule on the human pathogen Neisseria (N.) gonorrhoeae is still a topic of controversy . For this reason we compared the results obtained by light microscopy (dry India ink-Fuchsin stain) and electron microscopy (Alcian blue-lanthanum nitrate stain) of encapsulated strains of N . meningitidis and Streptococcus (S.) pneumoniae and of non-encapsulated strains of S . pneumoniae and Escherichia (E.) coli with those obtained using the same methods on strains of pilliated and non-pilliated N . gonorrhoeae . After staining with India ink-Fuchsin no capsules could be demonstrated on any of the N . gonorrhoeae strains studied . If present the capsules on these cells are too delicate to be identified by light microscopy . After treatment with Alcian blue-lanthanum nitrate sections of cells of N . meningitidis and S . pneumoniae generally showed the presence of a capsular layer . Sections of cells of the non-encapsulated strain of S . pneumoniae which possess C (common)-polysaccharide also showed surface associated capsule-like material . Similarly the surface of the cells of the E . coli strain showed material which appeared to be tufts of pili and/or M (mucoid)-antigen . In experiments where the N . gonorrhoeae cells were harvested as early as after six hours of growth a capsule-like material was demonstrated on cells of all strains studied. Nucleic Acids Res, 1988 Jul 11, 16(13), 5957 - 72 Purification and characterization of DNA methyltransferases from Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Piekarowicz A et al.; Three DNA methyltransferases, M.NgoAI, and M.NgoBI and M.NgoBII, free of any nuclease activities were isolated from Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains WR220 and MUG116 respectively . M.NgoAI recognizes the sequence 5' GGCC 3' and methylates the first 5' cytosine on both strands . M.NgoBI and M.NgoBII recognize 5' TCACC 3' and 5' GTAN5CTC 3' respectively . M.NgoBII methylates cytosine on only one strand to produce 5'