J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Feb, 5(2), 137 - 41 Field evaluation of New York City medium in the biological environment-CO2 chamber in recovery of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and urogenital mycoplasmas; Faur YC et al.; The biological environment-CO2 chamber containing New York City (NYC) medium was evaluated in a clinical field trial in comparison with Transgrow and NYC medium in plates for the recovery of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and with NYC medium for urogenital mycoplasmas . The results of the study indicated that the biological environment chamber-CO2 culturing system with NYC medium is an effective method for the handling, transport, and culture of N . gonorrhoeae, large-colony mycoplasmas, and T-mycoplasmas if the delay in transport and incubation does not exceed 24 h. Infect Immun, 1977 Feb, 15(2), 670 - 1 Genital inoculation of male baboons with Neisseria gonorrhoeae; DiGiacomo RF et al.; Eight male baboons inoculated intraurethrally with Neisseria gonorrhoeae failed to shed gonococci or develop serum antibody . Urethral inoculation, preceded by epididymal inoculation, elicited an anamnestic antibody response. Infect Immun, 1977 Feb, 15(2), 663 - 4 Production of a capsule of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Richardson WP et al.; Neisseria gonorrhoeae can be induced to form a large capsule that can be visualized with India ink . Encapsulated gonococci appeared to be resistant to non-antibody-mediated phagocytosis compared with unencapsulated gonococci of the same strain and colony type. Infect Immun, 1977 Feb, 15(2), 628 - 37 Pyocin sensitivity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and its feasibility as an epidemiological tool; Sidberry HD et al.; Pyocin inhibition of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and its feasibility as a gonococcal typing scheme were examined . Mitomycin C-induced pyocin lysates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were able to selectively inhibit the growth of gonococcal strains . The particles associated with the inhibitory activity were non-dialyzable, heat labile, Pronase sensitive, trypsin resistant, and of large molecular weight by membrane and gel filtration techniques . The inhibitory activity was shown to be specific by absorption with sensitive and insensitive strains of N . gonorrhoeae and P . aeruginosa . Partial purification of pyocin lysates by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by ultracentrifugation revealed phagelike particles consistent with high-molecular-weight R-type pyocines . These particles were associated with increased inhibitory activity and could be seen associated with the gonococcal cell surface . One hundred and six gonococcal strains could be differentiated on the basis of their sensitivity of 23 pyocin extracts . Thirty different patterns of pyocin inhibition were seen . Isolates from different body sites from the same patient could generally be identified as being similar strains . Strains isolated from known consorts had the same patterns . In general, agreement between pyocin typing and available epidemiological information was good. Infect Immun, 1977 Feb, 15(2), 560 - 7 In vitro interaction of Neisseria gonorrhoeae type 1 and type 4 with tissue culture cells; Brodeur BR et al.; As a basis for studies of gonococcal pathogenicity, tissue culture cells were infected with type 1 or type 4 Neisseria gonorrhoeae to determine intracellular viability . A simple and objective means of measurement was devised, based on the uptake of tritiated protein and deoxyribonucleic acid precursors by cycloheximide-inhibited cells infected with gonococci . Cycloheximide was found to inhibit protein synthesis by over 97% tissue culture cells at a concentration of 100 microng/ml . In contrast, N, gonorrhoeae was found to be highly resistant to this antibiotic, and protein synthesis was unaffected by concentrations up to 1,000 microng/ml . Extracellular gonococci were eliminated by treatment with high concentrations of penicillin during cycloheximide inhibition and prior to the addition of radioisotope . Levels of protein and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis by N . gonorrhoeae in the cycloheximide-treated cells were significantly higher in T1-infected cells (RE2, HeLa, or HEp-2) than in the corresponding T4-infected cells . No differences were observed in tissue cell susceptibility to gonococcal infection . Intracytoplasmic localization of N . gonorrhoeae was confirmed by electron microscopy. Br J Vener Dis, 1977 Feb, 53(1), 31 - 9 Scanning electron microscopical examination of gonococcal urethral exudate; Klein RD et al.; The relationship of gonococci and phagocytes in gonococcal urethral exudate was examined using a scanning electron microscope . Several stages in the phagocytic process were evident . These included pseudopodias, microvilli, and simple attachment of gonococci to phagocytic surfaces . Epithelial cells, also a part of the exudate, were examined in this study . Parallels are drawn between this and other phagocytic systems . The technique provides excellent preservation of phagocyte-bacterial interrelationships and offers a means of investigating the nature of the resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to phagocytosis. J Infect Dis, 1977 Feb, 135(2), 243 - 51 Bactericidal antibody in genital infection due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Kasper DL et al.; An assay of bactericidial antibody has been developed to study the host response to infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae . This test for antibody was performed on the sera of women who were exposed to N . gonorrhoeae but who did not become infected, of patients with various types of genital infection with N . gonorrhoeae, and of a small number of individuals with no history of gonorrhea . Antibody was found in the sera of less than 31% of men and women with uncomplicated gonococcal infection . Prolonged mucosal infection with the gonococcus (greater than 33 days) correlated with the presence of bactericidal antibody . Bactericidal antibody was not detected in 95% of the specimens of acute-phase serum obtained from women with gonococcal pelvic inflammatory disease . The convalescent-phase sera of 70% of women with clinically severe pelvic inflammatory disease showed a rise in titer of bactericidal antibody to the infecting strain of N . gonorrhoeae, whereas only 11% of the convalescent-phase sera of women with mild or moderately severe disease showed a similar rise. J Bacteriol, 1977 Feb, 129(2), 983 - 92 Factors affecting genetic transformation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Biswas GD et al.; Piliated gonococci were competent in genetic transformation in all stages of growth in minimal and enriched media, but nonpiliated cells were almost totally incompetent . Uptake of deoxyribonucleic acid into a deoxyribonuclease-insensitive state was observed only in competent piliated cells . Competence was not affected by washing of competent cells or treatment of competent cells with proteolytic enzymes . Expression of competence required presence of any of several different monovalent or divalent cations, as well as a utilizable source of energy . Efforts to produce genotypically or phenotypically competent derivatives of nonpiliated cells were unsuccessful . These experiments are consistent with the idea that pili may play a role in the irreversible uptake of transforming deoxyribonucleic acid by the gonococcus, but fail to provide evidence for other types of competence factors. Sex Transm Dis, 1977 Jan-Mar, 4(1), 15 - 7 An evaluation of microcult g.c . in venereal disease clinics; Nielsen AO et al.; Microcult G.C . is a kit for cultivation and identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae . ue of this kit was compared with the cultivation and identification methods of the Neisseria Department, Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen (WHO collaborating center for reference and research in gonococci) . The investigation included 203 men and 80 women who appeared for examination at our veneral disease clinics . For examination of urethral specimens from men the predictive value of positive tests was found to be 93% and the predictive value of negative tests was 94% . For specimens from the urethra and cervix of women, the predictive value of positive tests was 95% and the predictive value of negative tests was 90% . The reliability of these results makes Microocult G.C . a valuable supplement to microscopy in venereal disease clinics with a relative high prevalence of gonorrhoea . The predictive value of positive tests from the anal canal was 21% and from the tonsils 3%; in these locations the test is not suitable for diagnostic purposes. J Supramol Struct, 1977, 6(3), 465 - 72 Microbial carbohydrate specific antibodies distinguish between different stages of differentiating mouse cerebellum; Trenkner E; High titered anticarbohydrate antibodies were used to identify cell surface carbohydrates during different stages in histogenesis of mouse cerebellum in a micro tissue-culture system which mimics selected features of in vivo cerebellum development . Blockage of fiber formation within the first few days in vitro and inhibition of cell migrations by carbohydrate-specific antibodies served as an assay system for possible contributions of surface carbohydrates to the behavior of developing cerebellar cells . Microbial strains were selected on the basis of carbohydrate structures of their cell wall antigens, and anticarbohydrate antibodies were raised against treated whole bacteria and yeast in rabbits . We found that antibodies to mannan were active at all stages of development tested (embryonic day 13, E13; the day of birth, PO; and postnatal day 7, P7) . Antibodies to sialic acids prepared against strains B and C of Neisseria meningitidis distinguish different subterminal structures: anti-B reacted with E13 and PO cerebellar cells, and anti-C mostly with cells older than P7 . Antifetuin antibody recognized E13 and PO but not P7 cell populations . Pneumococcus C strain R36A-specific antibodies were effective only after coating cells to C type carbohydrate before application of the antibody . The results demonstrate that antimicrobiol carbohydrate antibodies cross-react with mammalian cell surface carbohydrate structures and therefore can be used as a powerful tool in tissue culture to analyse those structures which might control cell behaviors pertinent to cerebellar development. Dermatologica, 1977, 154(5), 273 - 6 {Neisseria gonorrhoeae culture: development of an easy method}; Itani ZS; An easy and cheap method for culturing Neisseria is developed . The medium for gonococci is prepared as proposed by the producer (BBL, Oxoid, Hoechst) . About 8 ml of the medium are poured in sterile air-tight stool tubes of 25 ml volume . Materials to be examined for gonococci are taken from the cervix, ureter or anus and are inoculated on the medium . A small piece (20-30 mg) of the GasPak tablet (BBL) is then deposited in the tube and closed immediately . The GasPak tablet consists of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid which, if they come in contact with humidity, produce CO2 gas . The inoculated tube is then put in an incubator at 37 degrees C for 14-24 h . This method gives a good microbiological result . With the aid of the oxidase reaction the colonies take a brown-black color . For further differentiation of the species the sugar fermentation method is necessary. Dermatologica, 1977, 154(1), 45 - 8 Condyloma-like lesions possibly caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Report of a case; Haim S et al.; A 2-year old girl suffered from continuous pyogenic inflammation in the anogenital region probably enhanced by neurological alterations . In one episode, the inflammatory process presented multiple moist papillomatous growths on the labia majora and along the anal margin which are thought to have been caused by gonococcal infection. J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Jan, 5(1), 9 - 14 Simplified complete medium for the growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Jones RT et al.; A complete medium for the growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae has been developed, using the same basic ingredients contained in commercial media but with fewer supplements . Based on a comparison of plating efficiencies, this medium (designated TTU Complete Medium) supported the growth of laboratory strains of N . gonorrhoeae equal to that obtained on commercial GC agar base medium supplemented with Iso VitaleX . It was also equivalent to the commercial medium in supporting the growth of 67 clinical isolates and 6 auxotypes of N . gonorrhoeae when tested by the streak plate method . Based on turbidity measurements and viable plate counts, the liquid equivalent of TTU Complete Medium supported maximal growth yields of N . gonorrhoeae . The toxicity of different brands of agar appeared to be a major factor in preventing the growth of N . gonorrhoeae strains on solid media . The addition of starch neutralized the toxicity of some types of agar but not of others. J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Jan, 5(1), 26 - 30 Asymptomatic females: detection of antibody activity to gonococcal pili antigen by radioimmunoassay; Oates SA et al.; A gonococcal pili antigen preparation was used to detect antibody activity sera obtained from 322 culture-positive asymptomatic females and 150 negative controls . Pili were obtained from a culture of type 2 Neisseria gonorrhoeae (strain 2686) and labeled with 125I for use in a double-antibody radioimmunoassay test system . Of the 322 sera obtained from culture-positive, asymptomatic females, 276 (85.7%) showed antibody activity greater than or equal to 1.8 mug/ml . Negative controls were obtained from three different groups of individuals, and 130 (86.7%) had undetectable antibody activity . Sera from asymptomatic, culture-positive females were absorbed with three different strains of N . gonorrhoeae, one of these strains being the organism used for pili antigen preparations . The absorbed sera were tested for antibody activity, and in each case the activity in the absorbed sera dropped to an undetectable level . When the same sera were absorbed with N . meningitidis, N . catarrhalis, N . perflava, Escherichia coli, Herellea vaginicola, Mima polymorpha, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans, little, if any, decline in the level of anti-pili antibody activity was observed. J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Jan, 5(1), 108 - 9 Identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by genetic transformation: a clinical laboratory evaluation; Bawdon RE et al.; Transformation of a Neisseria gonorrhoeae auxotroph (uracil and arginine deficient) to prototrophy was attempted with wild-type deoxyribonucleic acid from 71 random clinical N . gonorrhoeae cultures . Of these 71 cultures, 97.1% transformed the nutritionally deficient mutant to prototrophy . The procedure was reliable and economical and offered several distinct advantages over other methods used for the confirmation of N . gonorrhoeae. Health Lab Sci, 1977 Jan, 14(1), 26 - 9 Neisseria gonorrhoeae identification in carbohydrate medium containing guinea pig serum; Maniar AC; Clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from Manitoba were tested for their carbohydrate degradation activity in Cystine Trypticase Agar (C.T.A) medium, Mueller-Hinton Agar and guinea pig serum agar . Each isolate was tested using 2 carbohydrates (e.g . glucose and maltose) in the above three media . Out of 661 isolates tested, only 80% were positively identified in C.T.A . medium . Mueller-Hinton agar allowed 88% identification while guinea pig serum agar yielded 100% identification . In a second series of experiments, 102 cultures of N . gonorrhoeae were used to compare Flynn & Waitkins medium with guinea pig serum agar . Only 91 of these were identified with Flynn and Waitkins medium while guinea pig serum agar identified all the 102 isolates . Guinea pig serum provides adequate growth of fastidious N . gonorrhoeae essential for detecting specific enzymes . Since guinea pig serum does not contain maltase activity, it does not interfere with the biochemical activities tested . Guinea pig serum agar is easy to prepare, does not require a heavy inoculum and gives definite color change in the medium. Health Lab Sci, 1977 Jan, 14(1), 22 - 5 Evaluation of a new gonorrhea culture detection system--Microcult G.C; Lewis JS; A new dehydrated test system (Microcult G.C.), developed by the Ames Company for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, was evaluated with stock cultures and fresh isolates . When evaluated against fresh, modified Thayer-Martin (MTM) medium, the new test was slightly less sensitive (81.6% vs 84.2% detection); however, Microcult G.C . has the unique advantage of long room-temperature storage life without deterioration . Thus, it would probably not be used where fresh MTM is readily available, proving most useful in areas where laboratory services are less accessible. Chemotherapy, 1977, 23(2), 73 - 80 Sensitivity of Neisseria meningitidis to sulfonamides and antibiotics . In vitro trials on 302 strains isolated during the Brazilian epidemic of 1974; Buogo A; During the recent epidemic of meningitis in Brazil, 1974, bacteriological and antibiotic sensitivity investigations were performed on 302 strains of Neisseria meningitidis, isolated from meningitis patients from the Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro districts in the first half of 1974 . The experiments have shown that 58% of the strains belong to the serological type A, 25% belong to type C and the remaining 17% to a group designated 'untypable' in that they did not react with the diagnostic antisera A, B, C, and D . Antibiotic sensitivity tests in vitro have made evident that, independently of the serological type, 89.8% of the 302 strains were inhibited by 10 mug/ml of a long-acting sulfonamide (sulfamethoxypyrazine, SMP), that is, by levels easily reached in the CSF during a normal prophylactic or therapeutic treatment. Chemotherapy, 1977, 23(2), 65 - 72 Potentiation of sulphamethoxazole by trimethoprim in Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains; Stolz E et al.; Quantiative determinations of the sensitivity of 322 Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains to sulphamethoxazole (Su), trimethoprim (Tr) and a combination of Su and Tr in a ratio of 5:1 are described . Data are also given on the potentiation of Su by tr . It was striking that the Su-sensitive N . gonorrheoeae strains showed no potentiation of Su by Tr when a Su/Tr ratio of 5:1 is used . The sensitivity to combinations of Su and Tr in various ratios was determined for seven N . gonorrhoeae strains with known senstivity to Su and Tr . On the basis of these data, the rules according to which Su is potentiated by Tr . could be formulated. J Clin Invest, 1977 Jan, 59(1), 117 - 24 Inhibition of adherence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by human genital secretions; Tramont EC; Local genital antibodies to the infecting strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence (binding antibody) and by their ability to inhibit the attachment of gonococci to epithelial cells (functional antibody) . Both IgG and IgA classes of immunoglobulin were involved, and the IgA component were primarily of a secreting (11S) nature . The ability of local genital antibody to inhibit attachment appears to persist for at least a short period of time and to be relatively strain specific. J Bacteriol, 1977 Jan, 129(1), 333 - 42 Growth pattern and cell division in Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Westling-Haggstrom B et al.; The gram-negative coccus Neisseria gonorrhoeae was found to grow regularly in at least two dimensions . Growth proceeded at a linear rate sequentially in each dimension . Growth in the second dimension (former width) was initiated slightly before the pole-division plane distance equalled the cell width . Penicillin treatment localized presumptive growth zones to the existing septum region . It was suggested that new growth zones were always formed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis created in the incipient daughter cells of a dividing coccus . Neither penicillin nor nalidixic acid induced filaments of N . gonorrhoeae . Such structures could nevertheless be formed in the rod-shaped species Neisseria elongata . N . gonorrhoeae divides by septation; however, complete septal structures with separated cytoplasms were rather infrequent . It is proposed that N . gonorrhoeae be regarded as a short rod which always extends parallel to the actual longitudinal axis and which never undergoes a rod-sphere-rod transition. J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Jan, 5(1), 15 - 9 Rapid carbohydrate fermentation test for confirmation of the pathogenic Neisseria using a Ba(OH)2 indicator; Slifkin M et al.; The Ba(OH)2 indicator system was demonstrated to be a practical procedure in assisting clinical bacteriologists in the accurate and rapid identification of the pathogenic Neisseria from clinical specimens . This system measured the release of CO2, resulting from the metabolism of fermentable carbohydrate, as the precipitated BaCO3, by means of a spectrophotometer, The method was uncomplicated and can be performed in most clinical bacteriology laboratories. Pol J Pharmacol Pharm, 1977 Jan-Feb, 29(1), 39 - 47 Synthesis and some biological properties of 6-aminopenicillanic derivatives; Zukowski E et al.; The properties of 33 6-aminopenicillanic derivates were described, the majority of which and particularly all 3,4-disubstituted phenyl derivatives, are new compounds . These derivatives were synthesized by three different methods consisting in treating of 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) with appropriate phenylthio -- and phenoxyalkanecarboxylic acids . The method consisting in use of aryloxyketenes is new and claimed by the patent applications . All synthesized compounds were screened for their biological activity against 21 different strains of pathogenic microorganisms of species: Staphylococcus, Sarcina, Streptococcus, Escherichia, Proteus, Klebsiella, Neisseria, Pseudomonas, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans . In the present paper only the most interesting results of microbiological tests and some data concerning pharmacological investigations performed on rats, were presented . Among selected compounds both substances 30 and 32 showed animals weight growth stimulating activity. Clin Orthop, 1977, (127), 120 - 2 Low back pain due to neisseria prostatitis: report of three cases; Rask MR; After a short term of employment in a new job, 3 young heroin addicts became disabled from low back pain due to neisseria gonorrhea prostatitis . Each returned to work after a few weeks of antibiotic therapy without symptoms following proper diagnosis . These patients demonstrate the importance of a careful history and thorough examination of the patient with low back pain including a rectal examination of the prostate gland. Microbios, 1977, 20(79), 39 - 46 Penicillin resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae due to beta-lactamase production; Thornsberry C et al.; Two isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from two patients who did not respond to repeated treatment with penicillin were found to contain an active beta-lactamase . This enzyme has not been previously found in other gonococci isolated in the United States . Compared to other gonococci, these isolates had higher penicillin minimal inhibitory concentrations, and gave very small or no zones of inhibition in the disc agar diffusion test . The enzyme was demonstrated with three different rapid tests for beta-lactamase, by disc diffusion assay methods, and by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry determination of penicilloic acid--the enzymatic end product from penicillin. Acta Derm Venereol, 1977, 57(2), 177 - 80 Survival of Neisseria gonorrhoeae on surfaces; Elmros T; The survival of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was investigated . It was found that gonococci could survive 24 hours in urethral secretion on a glass slide and on a towel at 22 degrees C, and 120 hours at 4 degrees C . A method was developed by which the survival of gonococci could be followed in vitro . With this method, gonococci grown in vitro were found to be protected by human serum, in contrast to gonococci resuspended in NaCl . The factors affecting the survival are discussed. J Infect Dis, 1977 Jan, 135(1), 94 - 104 Cross-antigenicity and immunogenicity between capsular polysaccharides of group C Neisseria meningitidis and of Escherichia coli K92; Glode MP et al.; Antibodies to capsular polysaccharides of group C Neisseria meningitidis are often found in sera of young adults despite infrequent nasopharyngeal carriage and low rate of attack of N . meningitidis in the United States . Thus, experiments were designed for detection of bacteria cross-reactive with N . meningitidis . Among 3,264 cultures of stool, urine, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid, only 14 strains were found to be cross-reactive; all were Escherichia coli possessing the K92 capsular polysaccharide . The somatic O-antigens were 16, 13, 23, and 73; the flagellar antigens were H4 and 34 . All K92 strains of E . coli showed the expected fermentations, were sensitive to common antibiotics, and lacked enteropathogenicity . Antigens of both E . coli K92 and group C N . meningitidis are capsular, acidic polysaccharides composed of sialic acid . The K92 polysaccharide is N- but not O-acetylated, sensitive to neuraminidase, and linked by alpha-2,8- alternating with alpha-2,9-ketosidic bonds . The K92 polysaccharides from all E . coli studied had similar biophysical and immunological properties . Intravenous injection of formalin-treated K92 organisms induced precipitating and bactericidal antibodies to polysaccharides of N . meningitidis . E . coli K92 strains may provide an alternative immunogen for prophylaxis against disease due to group C N . meningitidis in infants and young children. J Bacteriol, 1977 Jan, 129(1), 202 - 6 Carboxylation of phosphoenolpyruvate by extracts of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Cox DL et al.; The enzymatic carboxylation of phosphoenolpyruvate by cell-free extracts of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was examined and determined to be similar to the reaction catalyzed by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) . This was shown by the irreversibility of the reaction and nucleotide independency . The enzyme was found to have some characteristics different from the other bacterial PEPCs reported . The enzyme showed catalytic activity in the presence of cobalt ions as well as magnesium and manganese ions, was not inhibited by succinate in fresh extracts, and displayed a low Michaelis constant for bicarbonate (0.27 mM), as compared with other PEPCs . The significance of this low Michaelis constant is discussed with respect to the growth of the organism and the importance of this enzyme to protein and nucleic acid synthesis. J Am Vener Dis Assoc, 1976 Dec, 3(2 Pt 1), 71 - 5 Gonorrhea screening program in a women's hospital outpatient department: results and analysis of risk factors; Cooper DL et al.; Endocervical cultures for Neisseria gonorrhoeae were taken from 4,285 new patients attending the emergency room and outpatient clinics at Women's Hospital, Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center . Of these, 144 (3.4%) were positive . Clinic-specific rates were: emergency room 9.0%, family planning clinic 2.3%, therapeutic abortion clinic 2.2%, and prenatal clinic 1.0% . An additional 70 return patients were cultured because of history, symptoms, or signs suggestive of gonorrhea; 14% of these "nonscreen" cultures were positive . Rates for the emergency room and nonscreen category were significantly greater than rates from the clinics . A questionnaire was used to determine patient characteristics in an attempt to identify a high-risk population . Variables of age, race, marital status, history of previous veneral disease or pelvic infection, number of sexual partners, and suspicion of venereal disease were significantly related to the incidence of positive cultures . Obstetrical history and symptoms of cramping or discharge were not related. J Am Vener Dis Assoc, 1976 Dec, 3(2 Pt 1), 65 - 7 Oropharyngeal gonorrhea during pregnancy; Stutz DR et al.; The frequency of oropharyngeal infections with Neisseria gonorrhoeae in pregnant women was studied in two prenatal clinics in Bandkok, Thailand . A third group of women visiting a dental clinic on a routine basis was included for comparison purposes . Group I, from an American dependent clinic, had an oropharyngeal infection rate of 15% while only 0.7% had cervical infections . None had infections in more than one site . In Group III, from a Thai clinic, no patients had oropharyngeal infections while 11.9% had infections from either the cervix or rectum or both . One and eight-tenths percent of the patients attending the dental clinic had oropharyngeal infections . Oropharyngeal gonorrhea was found in a prenatal population of American military dependents at a high rate . We propose that all women visiting a prenatal clinic routinely have their oropharynx cultured for N gonorrhoeae. Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1976 Dec 1, 162(3-4), 239 - 49 {Distribution of species of Moraxella and moraxella-like organisms in the nasopharynx of healthy human adults (author's transl}; Berger U et al.; By means of a lincomycin containing selective medium, gram-negative, oxidase-positive, non-motile, non-saccharolytic, penicillin-sensitive rods have been isolated from 24 of 165 healthy adults (13,9%) . Three strains were lost, 7 strains were Moraxella osloensis (4,2%), 12 strains were Neisseria elongata (7,3%) and 2 strains were considered to be a subspecies of N . elongata (1.2%) . By agglutination and immunodiffusion could be demonstrated that N . elongata is a serologically heterogenous species . The nasopharynx seems to represent the natural habitat of M . osloensis and N . elongata. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1976 Dec, 236(4), 559 - 64 {Experience with Neisseria lactamica (author's transl)}; Kuzemenska P et al.; The authors have performed a detailed study of the presence of a new microbial species, Neisseria lactamica which even recently had still been classified among the nontypable Neisseria meningitidis strains . An examination of the spread of Neisseria strains among the healthy population of this country revealed 1.6% to be carriers of Neisseria lactamica as compared with 4.7% being carriers of Neisseria meningitidis . From the material examined, the highest number of Neisseria lactamica carriers was found among the 0-1 year age group (5.9%) whereas the maximum number of Neisseria meningitidis carriers was found in the 25-34 year age group (11.1%) . The simultaneous identification of N . meningitidis and N . lactamica in exceptional cases means a new and important observation. J Clin Pathol, 1976 Dec, 29(12), 1091 - 3 A comparison of brain heart infusion blood agar sterilized by filtration and heat on the growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Seth AD et al.; The growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae on brain heart infusion blood agar in which the base was sterilized by filtration has been compared with growth on the same medium sterilized by heat . Colonies were larger on the unheated medium, and autoclaving at 115 degrees C of 121 degrees C for 15 minutes was accompanied by a progressive decrease in colony size . Viable counts on the three media showed no difference in end points . Colonies on the unheated medium were usually large enough to be easily recognizable after overnight incubation. Clin Exp Immunol, 1976 Dec, 26(3), 469 - 77 Sequential studies of lymphocyte responsiveness and antibody formation in acute bacterial meningitis; Andersen V et al.; Lymphocyte transformation responses in vitro were studied in eight patients with acute bacterial meningitis (in five due to Neisseria meningitidis) . Sequential studies were done from 24--48 hr after the first symptoms of infection to complete recovery . In all cases lymphocyte transformation was depressed during the acute phases of illness . The responses to microbial antigens were more affected than the responses to mitogens . The course of the lymphocyte responses to the causative micro-organism showed no difference from the responses to other microbial species . A moderate shift towards increased sensitivity of the lymphocytes to lower doses of the causative micro-organism was observed during the course of illness in three cases . In N . meningitidis infection, a rapid rise was seen in the serum titres of complement-fixing antibodies and in the number of precipitating antibodies, whereas the rise in immunoglobulin concentrations was more prolonged . Characteristic patterns of elevation and return towards normal were found in the serum concentrations of the acute-phase reactants alpha1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, and orosomucoid . It is concluded that the lymphocyte transformation responses in vitro during severe bacterial infection are largely governed by non-specific factors, and that studies of lymphocyte responses to micro-organisms should always include other microbial species as controls. Br J Vener Dis, 1976 Dec, 52(6), 384 - 6 Prevalence of multiple antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Platt DJ; The susceptibility of 100 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to five antimicrobial agents (penicillin, streptomycin, oxytetracycline, sulphamethoxazole, and gentamicin) was examined . Three strains were resistant to each antimicrobial, fourteen exhibited resistance to three or four of the five compounds tested, and 49 were resistant to a single agent, or to pairs of the selected agents . 34 strains were found to be fully sensitive to all of the compounds tested . It is suggested that resistance to gentamicin and sulphamethoxazole may be determined by a multiple resistance gene . The overall frequency of penicillin resistance was found to be 26-5 per cent (MIC greater than 0-06 mug/ml.), suggesting a significant decrease in resistance since 1968. Br J Vener Dis, 1976 Dec, 52(6), 381 - 3 Prolonged survival of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in a new liquid medium; Hafiz S et al.; Despite substantial improvements in solid culture media for gonococci and the development of liquid media for the short-term growth of the organism, we know of no study of the long-term survival of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in liquid medium . A new liquid medium for N . gonorrhoeae formulated in this laboratory is simple, efficient, and promising . It will support growth and sustain inoculated colony types for periods of up to 3 weeks . Moreover, it has been used successfully for the primary isolation of gonococci from patients . From the evidence at present available, we believe that this medium will find a useful place in gonococcal research. Br J Vener Dis, 1976 Dec, 52(6), 374 - 80 Serum and secretory antibody responses to Neisseria gonorrhoeae in patients with gonococcal infections; Tapchaisri P et al.; The present study was conducted to characterize the nature and pattern of serum and secretory antibody responses to N . gonorrhoeae by haemagglutination inhibition, opsonization, and immunofluorescence techniques in male and female patients with different clinical manifestations of gonorrhoea . Most male patients with acute gonococcal infection developed serum IgG and, less frequently, IgM antibodies against pilated gonococci within 2 weeks of infection and these antibodies declined to normal levels 1 to 2 months after treatment . This response was not noticeably different from the responses developed in male patients with subacute infection and female patients with chronic infection . Immunological analyses of the seminal plasmas and cervical fluids from these patients showed that antibodies reactive with both pilated and non-pilated N . gonorrhoeae are present in some of the cases . A small percentage of male patients who recovered from subacute gonococcal infection but not from acute infection possessed low levels of IgG and, less frequently, IgA antibodies to gonococcal antigens in their seminal plasmas . In contrast, more than half of the females with gonorrhoea had IgG antigonococcal antibodies in the cervical fluid . However, a small number of samples also showed the presence of IgA and IgM antibodies . IgA antibody in most of these IgA-positive samples was of the secretory type . The presence of secretory IgA (SIgA) in secretions and the lack of correlation between the antibody titres in serum and in secretions of these patients suggest that infection with N . gonorrhoeae may independently stimulate both a systemic and a local humoral immune response. Infect Immun, 1976 Dec, 14(6), 1297 - 301 Immunological and serological diversity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: gonococcal serotypes and their relationship with immunotypes; Wong KH et al.; Strains of gonococcus were shown to be immunologically heterologous . Serum bactericidal activity generally correlated with induced immunity to gonococcal challenge as detected by the guinea pig subcutaneous chamber model . Sera devoid of bactericidal activity reflected the lack of cross-protection in subcutaneous chambers . Factors affecting the bactericidal assay described in this report include (i) source of complement, (ii) concentration of test antigen and complement activity, and (iii) presence of calcium and magnesium ions and bovine serum albumin in diluent . Poor correlation was observed between agglutinating activity of the immune sera and protection. Infect Immun, 1976 Dec, 14(6), 1293 - 6 Immunological and serological diversity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: immunotyping of gonococci by cross-protein in guinea pig subcutaneous chambers; Arko RJ et al.; An in vivo typing system for studying the immunological relationship of gonococcal strains was established . Nine gonococcal strains of proven virulence for guinea pig subcutaneous chambers were selected, and these isolates were used to immunize groups of guinea pigs that were subsequently cross-challenged with graduated numbers of gonococci from these isolates . Resistance to infection was determined by culture of fluid from challenged chambers; results were expressed as the median dose, in colony-forming units, of gonococci required to produce infection in each group of immunized guinea pigs . This information was then used to develop immunotypes of gonococci based on the cross-protection results obtained . Four cross-protecting immunotypes were established from the preliminary nine strains tested. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1976 Dec, 84B(6), 458 - 60 Isolation of a penicillinase producing strain of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Odegaard K et al.; A gram-negative diplococcus with the qualifications of a gonococcus was isolated from the urethra of a male infected with gonorrhoea in the Far East . The strain proved to be resistant to penicillin G and ampicillin as judged by the paper disc sensitivity test . The resistance was found to be caused by a powerful production of penicillinase which not only acted on penicillin G and ampicillin, but also on methicillin and partly on cephalosporin (cephalotin) by the test employed. Acta Otolaryngol, 1976 Nov-Dec, 82(5-6), 415 - 9 Serological studies in acute maxillary sinusitis; Brorson JE et al.; A comparison was performed between bacteriological and serological findings in 97 patients suffering from acute maxillary sinusitis . A significant titre change (larger than or equal to 2 titre steps) of complement-fixing antibodies to H . influenzae was demonstrated in 15 patients . H . influenzae was demonstrated in aspirated sinus secretions from 7 of these 15 patients . Further, titre changes to Neisseria catarrhalis were demonstrated in 25 patients . No significant titre changes in anti-streptolysin and anti-staphylolysin titres were demonstrated . The results are discussed briefly. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1976 Nov, 236(2-3), 231 - 4 Evaluation of three techniques for carbohydrate fermentation of Neisseriae; van Dyck E et al.; Three different techniques to study carbohydrate fermentation by Neisseriae were compared using 226 strains: growth in semi-solid cystine trypticase agar, the rapid test in phosphate buffered solutions of carbohydrates and growth on slants of solid cystine trypticase agar . The latter method was found to be the easiest to perform and is more suited for smaller laboratories, since the media used may be stored for at least 2 months. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1976 Nov, 236(2-3), 224 - 30 {Action of chemotherapeutics upon Neisseria meningitidis (author's transl)}; Janovska D et al.; During the period 1970-1973 (1st half), 281 strains of Neisseria meningitidis from carriers and 35 from patients were tested for their sensitivity to a wide spectrum of chemotherapeutics . From the results of the tests for sensitivity in vitro, the conclusion is drawn that ampicillin, carbenicillin, and rifamycin SV may be considered as having a good action upon Neisseria meningitidis . The preparations of intermediate efficacy include penicillin, cephaloridine, chloramphenicol, and tetracyclin . As to sulphonamides, the presence of resistant strains was established . This phenomenon was rare when sulphonamide had been combined with trimetoprim. J Infect Dis, 1976 Nov, 134(5), 450 - 62 Bactericidal and opsonic activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae in sera from patients with disseminated gonococcal infection; Brooks GF et al.; Bactericidal and opsonic activities in convalescent-phase sera from patients with disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) were analyzed with use of the patients' infecting strains and other strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Serum from a patients with C8 deficiency was opsonic for her first DGI isolate grown on solid medium or in chick embryos; with added complement the serum was bactericidal (at a dilution of 1:320) . Her serum was not bactericidal for nine other isolates from patients with DGI . Only one of the other patients with DGI had detectable serum bactericidal activity (dilution, 1:2,5) against her own isolate; this patient's serum was also active against one other DGI isolate . Opsonization was detectable only in sera that were potentially bactericidal and could be distinguished from bactericidal activity only with C8-deficient serum . The isolates from patients with DGI were of an auxotype different from that of most other gonococci, and most of the isolates tested were not killed by sera from patients with uncomplicated gonorrhea, even though these wera killed other gonococci . Thus, isolates from patients with DGI appeared to be significantly different from other gonococcal isolates. J Clin Invest, 1976 Nov, 58(5), 1163 - 73 Gonococci causing disseminated gonococcal infection are resistant to the bactericidal action of normal human sera; Schoolnik GK et al.; The susceptibility of strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to the bactericidal action of normal human sera was determined for isolates from patients with disseminated gonococcal infection and uncomplicated gonorrhea . Serum susceptibility was correlated with penicillin susceptibility and auxotype . 38 of 39 strains (97%) of N . gonorrhoeae from Seattle patients with disseminated gonococcal infection were resistant to the complement-dependent bactericidal action of normal human sera . 36 of these were inhibited by less than or equal to mug/ml of penicillin G and required arginine, hypoxanthine, and uracil for growth on chemically defined medium (Arg-Hyx-Ura- auxotype) . 12 of 43 isolates from patients with uncomplicated gonorrhea were also of the Arg-Hyx-Ura-auxotype, inhibited by less than or equal to 0.030 mug/ml of penicillin G, and serum resistant . Of the 31 remaining strains of other auxotypes isolated from patients with uncomplicated gonorrhea, 18 (58.1%) were sensitive to normal human sera in titers ranging from 2 to 2,048 . The bactericidal action of normal human sera may prevent the dissemination of serum-sensitive gonococci . However, since only a small proportion of individuals infected by serum-resistant strains develop disseminated gonococcal infection, serum resistance appears to be a necessary but not a sufficient virulence factor for dissemination . Host factors such as menstruation and pharyngeal gonococcal infection may favor the dissemination of serum-resistant strains . Since serum-resistant Arg-Hyx-Ura strains are far more frequently isolated from patients with disseminated gonococcal infection than serum-resistant strains of other auxotypes, Arg-Hyx-Ura-strains may possess other virulence factors in addition to serum resistance. J Gen Microbiol, 1976 Nov, 97(1), 35 - 43 Morphological, biological and antigenic properties of Neisseria gonorrhoeae adapted to growth in guinea-pig subcutaneous chambers; Penn CW et al.; Gonococci (strain BS3) passaged three times and harvested directly from plastic chambers implanted subcutaneously in guinea pigs were compared with the parent strain (BS) grown in vitro . The strain grown in vivo produced smaller colonies than that grown in vitro and when examined directly in chamber fluid was sometimes not pilated . It was more resistant to the bactericidal action of human serum and more infective for guinea-pig chambers . In gel diffusion, extracts of the organisms adapted in vivo and cultured once on agar appeared to contain one or two antigens that were different from those in extracts of the in vitro grown organisms; and on polyacrylamide gels, electrophoresis of similar extracts showed one or more protein components for strain BS3 which were not seen for strain BS . Gonococci grown in guinea-pig subcutaneous chambers appear to be suitable for studies on the determinants of gonoccal pathogenicity. J Gen Microbiol, 1976 Oct, 96(2), 359 - 64 The influence of surface charge on the attachment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to human cells; Heckels JE et al.; Isoelectric focusing showed that Neisseria gonorrhoeae has an overall negative surface charge . Chemical modification of protein amino or carboxyl groups changed the surface charge and thereby altered the ability of the organisms to attach to human amnion cells grown in tissue culture . Attachment of modified and unmodified N . gonorrhoeae was increased by the presence of pili only when the bacteria bore a negative surface charge . Thus an important factor in the pathogenesis of gonorrhoea may be the ability of pili to facilitate attachment of N . gonorrhoeae by overcoming the initial electrostatic repulsive barrier which exists between it and the host cell. J Gen Microbiol, 1976 Oct, 96(2), 341 - 50 Resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae grown in vivo to ingestion and digestion by phagocytes of human blood; Witt K et al.; Attempts to study quantitatively the phagocytosis of gonococci from urethral pus failed because of the small numbers of organisms and technical difficulties . However, gonococci from chambers implanted subcutaneously in guinea pigs, which were similar to gonococci from urethral pus in their resistance to killing by human serum, were obtained in sufficient quantities for comparison in phagocytosis tests with the in vitro grown strains from which they were derived . Microscopic and viable counts of gonococci in phagocytes showed that in vivo grown organisms (strain BSV) were readily phagocytosed by human polymorphonuclear phagocytes . There was little difference betweee to ingestion . There was, however, a marked difference in the intracellular survival of strains BSV and BS during the first hour of phagocytosis . Whereas BSV organisms survived well, many BS organisms were killed . Subsequently, strain BSV and the survivors of the strain BS inoculum responded similarly to the intracellular bactericidins . These results were supported by electron microscopy of infected phagocytes . Resistance of gonococci in vivo to ingestion and digestion by human phagocytes seem to be important facets of the pathogenesis of gonorrhoea. Br J Vener Dis, 1976 Oct, 52(5), 316 - 25 Effects of laboratory maintenance on the nature of surface reactive antigens of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Arko RJ et al.; The extensive in vitro cultivation methods used in propagating and maintaining gonococcal cells were found to affect their virulence, antigenicity, and ultrastructure . Adapting a laboratory-maintained strain of gonococci to animal virulence resulted in two lines of pilated cells with similar colonial morphologies . The animal-adapted cells, however, had a greater amount of extracellular pili and a more prominent peptidoglycan cell wall layer . They were also more resistant to the bactericidal effects of guinea-pig complement and more reactive in macroagglutination and bactericidal tests with strain-specific gonococcal antibody . In comparative guinea-pig protection trials, formalin-fixed cells of the animal-adapted cell line were 500 times more effective as immunogens than the laboratory-maintained cell line. J Infect Dis, 1976 Oct, 134(4), 377 - 83 Serogrouping of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: identification of four immunologically distinct acidic polysaccharides; Apicella MA; A series of population-specific acidic polysaccharides have been described that can be used as a basis for serogrouping of Neisseria gonorrhoeae . These polysaccharides have been designated Gc antigens, and four immunologically distinct types have been identified . With these purified serogroup antigens and appropriately absorbed antisera in hemagglutination-inhibition systems, four typing systems have been established . Their sensitivities for purified homologous antigens range from 16 to 1 mug/ml . Purified heterologus antigens fail to inhibit at concentrations of 1,000 mug/ml . Clinically isolated N . gonorrhoeae are incorporated into these systems by conversion to standardized crude Gc antigen extracts by alkaline hhydrolysis . Of the 163 strains studied, 83% could be typed; 85% of these were typed for only one serogroup . Twenty strains were typed for two serogroups, and reisolation studies demonstrated that these strains were mosaics rather than mixed cultures . Four strains from each serogroup were selected, and antisera and purified serogroup antigens were produced from them . These were identical with their respective standard serogroup antigen and antisera in hemagglutination-inhibition and immunodiffusion systems. J Infect Dis, 1976 Oct, 134(4), 317 - 23 Quantitation of serum antibodies to surface antigens of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with radiolabeled protein A of Staphylococcus aureus; Christensen KK et al.; Antibodies in human sera against surface antigens of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were detected with use of 125I-labeled protein A from Staphylococcus aureus . Serum was allowed to react with a suspension of whole gonococci, and the antibodies attached to the bacteria were quantitated with protein A, which reacts with the Fc fragment of IgG . Tests with five human sera with a gonococcoal complement-fixation titer of greater than or equal to 1:30 revealed no difference between use of freshly isolated gonococci and use of strains subcultured daily on artificial medium for 10 years . Antibodies cross-reacting with N . gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis were found in human sera . The results of the test with labeled protein A varied with the serum titer of complement-fixing antibody to N . gonorrhoeae . Acute and convalescent sera from six of seven patients, including one with disseminated gonococcal infection, showed significantly larger differences in antibodies to N . gonorrhoeae than did sera of women without evidence of genital infection . Complement-fixation titers changed significantly in only three of the six patients. J Bacteriol, 1976 Oct, 128(1), 192 - 201 Physiology and metabolism of pathogenic neisseria: tricarboxylic acid cycle activity in Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Hebeler BH et al.; Tricarboyxlic acid cycle activity was examined in Neisseria gonorrhoeae CS-7 . The catabolism of glucose in N . gonorrheae by a combination of the Entner-Doudoroff and pentose phosphate pathways resulted in the accumulation of acetate, which was not further catabolized until the glucose was depleted or growth became limiting . Radiorespirometric studies revealed that the label in the 1 position of acetate was converted to CO2 at twice the rate of the label in the 2 position, indicating the presence of a tricarboxylic acid cycle . Growth on glucose markedly reduced the levels of all tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes except citrate synthase (EC 4.1.3.7) . Extracts of glucose-grown cells contained detectable levels of all tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes except aconitase (EC 4.2.1.3), isocitrate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.42), and a pyridine nucleotide-dependent malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37) . Extracts of cells capable of oxidizing acetate lacked only the pyridine nucleotide-dependent malate dehydrogenase . In lieu of this enzyem, a particulate pyridine nucleotide-independent malate oxidase (EC 1.1.3.3) was present . This enzyme required flavin adenine dinucleotide for activity and appeared to be associated with the electron transport chain . Radiorespirometric studies utilizing labeled glutamate demonstrated that a portion of the tricarboxylic acid cycle functioned during glucose catabolism . In spite of the presence of all tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes, N . gonorrhoeae CS-7 was unable to grow in medium supplemented with cycle intermediates. J Bacteriol, 1976 Oct, 128(1), 144 - 8 Localization of tetramethylphenylenediamine-oxidase in the outer cell wall layer of Neisseria meningitidis; Devoe IW et al.; A highly active tetramethylphenylenediamine-oxidase has been found in association with the cell wall blebs, evaginations of the outer wall membrane, of Neisseria meningitidis . Isolated wall blebs consumed oxygen in the presence of ascorbate-tetramethylphenylenediamine but not in the presence of succinate, whereas cell envelope preparations are active in both substrates . The ratio of succinate dehydrogenase/tetramethylphenylenediamine-oxidase activities in preparations of envelopes was approximately 100 times that in isolated wall blebs, indicating that the outer membrane preparations were highly purified. Health Lab Sci, 1976 Oct, 13(4), 262 - 6 Identification of gonococcal cultures by means of their cytoplasmic antigens and an anti-cytoplasm antiserum; Kwapinski G et al.; Soluble antigens were released by sonication from the cells of 60 primary cultures of Neiserria gonorrhoeae, 7 other species of neisseriae and 26 "mixed" cultures containing colonies of N . gonorrhoeae and other bacteria . Rabbits were injected with the soluble antigens of four strains of gonococci (clonal types 1 and 2), four other species of neisseriae and ten bacterial genera other than Neisseria . The antigens were tested against the non-absorbed antisera by a counter-immunoelectrophoresis method . It was found that the antiserum produced against the antigens of one N . gonorrhoeae strain, the strain GEK, reacted exclusively with the sonicates of all N . gonorrhoea cultures whether pure or mixed with other microorganisms . In contrast, the antisera to the antigens of all other N . gonorrhoeae strains cross-reacted with antigens of N . catarrhalis or N . sicca . Thus, the unique restricted reactivity of the anti-GEK antiserum permits its utilization as an immunological reagent for prompt identification of gonococcal cultures. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1976 Oct 1, 126(3), 365 - 9 The effect of vaginal lubricants on Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Singh B et al.; The possible interference of vaginal lubricants in culture diagnosis of gonorrhea was investigated by studying in vitro effect of selected lubricants on Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Two lubricants widely used in family planning and other clinics were demonstrated to have a bactericidal effect on N . gonorrhoeae when tested with more than one method . Gonococci were killed on contact with Lubrifoam, even at a 10 per cent concentration, and an exposure time as short as one minute was sufficient to inhibit the growth on chocolate agar medium . The K-Y jelly showed less inhibitory effect than Lubrifoam . These findings suggest that certain vaginal lubricants have bactericidal effects and their presence can inhibit the growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Br J Vener Dis, 1976 Oct, 52(5), 329 - 32 Activity in vitro of ten antimicrobial agents against Neisseria gonorrhoeae . A study of the correlation between the sensitivities; Meheus A et al.; 105 Belgian strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were tested for their sensitivity to penicillin, ampicillin, rifampicin, erythromycin, tetracycline, streptomycin, spectinomycin, sulphamethoxazole, trimethroprim, and a combination of sulphamethoxazole and trimethroprim in a 5:1 ratio . Distribution and median values of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) are given and discussed . 42 per cent . of strains were relatively resistant to penicillin (MIC greater than or equal to 0-04 mug/ml.), but only 2 per cent . showed high-level resistance (MIC greater than or equal to 0-38 mug/ml.), which is comparable with the prevalence of decreased sensitivity found in other European countries . A significant positive correlation (P less than or equal to 0-01, rank correlation coefficient) is found between the sensitivities to penicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, and streptomycin, except for the ampicillin-erythromycin and ampicillin-tetracycline pairs . Rifampicin is correlated with tetracycline . No correlation is found between the sensitivities to spectinomycin and any of the other drugs . The combination of sulphamethoxazole and trimethoprim in a 5:1 ratio also shows a significant positive correlation with penicillin and ampicillin and with sulphamethoxazole and trimethoprim separately. Lancet, 1976 Sep 25, 2(7987), 657 - 8 Penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Ashford WA et al.; Repeated failure of penicillin G treatment in a man with gonorrhoeal urethritis prompted penicillin sensitivity testing of the responsible strain of Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Disc diffusion sensitivity testing showed complete resistance to 10 mug of penicillin G . The organism produced penicillinase. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1976 Sep 15, 126(2), 158 - 61 Cul-de-sac isolates from patients with endometritis-salpingitis-peritonitis and gonococcal endocervicitis; Monif GR et al.; PIP: Bacteriologic observations derived by culdocentesis in 17 women with gonococcal endometritis-salpingitis from whom 1 or more bacteria were isolated are reported . Neisseria gonorrhoeae was cultured from the cul-de-sac in 11 cases and identified by Gram stain in 1 additional case . N . gonorrhoeae was the only isolate in 5 of these patients . Concomitantly with N . gonorrhoeae, aerobic bacteria were recovered in 2 cases and multiple anaerobic bacteria in 4 cases . In the remaining 6 cases, only aerobic and anaerobic organisms were isolated . Analysis of the Gram stain of the endocervix revealed the presence of intracellular gram-negative diplococci in 10 of 11 smears where N . gonorrhoeae was isolated . Diplococci were not demonstrated when N . gonorrhoeae was absent from the culdocentesis fluid . The data tend to refute the concept of a polymicrobial etiology for pelvic inflammatory disease, suggesting instead progressive anaerobic superinfection with nonrecovery and probable elimination of N . gonorrhoeae . The presence of aerobic/facultative anaerobes with obligatory anaerobes argues against an end-stage anaerobic environment . J Dent Res, 1976 Sep-Oct, 55(5), 787 - 96 Effects of sodium trimetaphosphate supplementation of a high sucrose diet on the microbial and biochemical composition of four-day plaque and on urine calcium and phosphorus levels; Dennis DA et al.; Daily supplementation of a high sucrose diet with 5 gm TMP resulted in significant alterations in certain human plaque components . Veillonella and Neisseria population (as percent total viable microorganisms), S sanguis (as percent streptococci), and levan hydrolase activity per milligram of plaque increased, whereas total viable microorganisms per milligram of plaque, streptococci per milligram of plaque, and specific fructosyltransferase activity decreased during the TMP-containing diet regimen. J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Sep, 4(3), 214 - 5 Septicemia due to Neisseria lactamica; Wilson HD et al.; Neisseria lactamica was isolated from the blood of a pediatric patient who had signs of septicemia and otitis media . Organisms morphologically resembling Neisseria, as well as gram-positive cocci, were seen on a Gram stain of fluid from the middle ear . It is hypothesized that the N . lactamica septicemia was secondary to infection of the middle ear by this organism. Infect Immun, 1976 Sep, 14(3), 776 - 82 Ultrastructural and biochemical alterations effected by viridin B, a bacterocin of alpha-hemolytic streptococci; Dajani AS et al.; Viridin B, a bacteriocin produced by Streptococcus mitis strain 42885, was shown previously to exert a bactericidal effect against a Neisseria sicca strain but only a bacteriostatic effect against a coagulase-negative staphylococcus . In the present report, this dual effect was defined further . Viridin B caused the appearance of mesosomes in both indicator strains early in the course of exposure . Whereas mesosomes were the only noticeable alterations in the staphylococcal strain at all times of exposure to bacteriocin, progressive changes occurred in the N . sicca cells involving the nucleoid and cytoplasmic contents and resulting in the appearance of bacterial ghosts . Biochemical studies indicated a rapid and complete cessation of the incorporation of {3H}thymidine in N . sicca and in the staphylococcus . Whereas the incorporation of {3H}leucine and {3H}uridine in N . sicca was completely stopped, such incorporation was only reduced in the staphylococcus. Rev Cubana Med Trop, 1976 Sep-Dec, 28(3), 133 - 41 {280 patients with urethritis}; Ortega Verdecia BP et al.; A study of 280 male patients with urethritis is presented . The frequency of infections caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida albicans and Mycoplasma "T" is reported . Some clinical characteristics of patients regarding the type of urethritis are described . Literature on non-gonoccal urethritis is reviewed. Afr J Med Med Sci, 1976 Sep, 5(3), 209 - 12 Treatment of gonorrhoea with a combination of probenecid and procaine penicillin in Rwanda; Meheus AZ et al.; Treatment of acute gonorrhoea with 1 g of probenecid orally followed after 1 h by 4.8 M-units of procaine penicillin intramuscularly yielded a 97.4% cure in men . The cure rate of 81.8% in women is not so satisfactory but the fact that the patients, mostly prostitutes, were chronically infected must be considered . The incidence of post-gonococcal urethritis in men was 34% . Disc sensitivity of neisseria gonorrhoea showed a similar pattern of mostly resistant strains for streptomycin, as in Uganda and Kenya . Ninety-four per cent of strains are sensitive to penicillin but these results must be confirmed by the more reliable dilution method . It is concluded that the treatment schedule studied, eventually simplified by the administration of probenecid and injections of penicillin simultaneously, can be recommended as a standard treatment for gonorrhoea in Rwanda. J Am Vener Dis Assoc, 1976 Sep, 3(1), 40 - 2 Preliminary studies in the clinical use of a bicarbonate containing growth medium for Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Earl RG et al.; A recent study from our laboratory demonstrated that the gaseous carbon dioxide atmosphere used for growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae could be replaced by the addition of sodium bicarbonate directly to the growth medium . A comparative growth study was initiated using the Transgrow system and the bicarbonate system, Nei-Carb . The Nei-Carb system displayed several obvsiou advantages over the Transgrow system . It required less incubation space, the bicarbonate concentrations can be regulated more readily than concentration of gaseous CO2, and individual plates can be examined without disturbing the atmosphere of other incubating plates . The preliminary results indicate that the Nei-Carb system can be utilized as a medium for primary isolation of gonococci . For every positive culture detected by the Transgrow system a corresponding positive culture was detected by the Nei-Carb system . Moreover, four strains of N gonorrhoeae grew in the Nei-Carb system that would not grow in the Transgrow system using gaseous CO2 . On further examination of these strains it was found that they required a much higher concentration of bicarbonate for growth than did those which grew readily in a gaseous CO2 atmosphere. Carbohydr Res, 1976 Sep, 50(2), 257 - 65 The circular dichroic spectra of several sialic acid-containing polysaccharides isolated from Neisseria meningitidis; Jennings HJ et al.; The circular dichroic spectra of the acid and sodium salt forms of several sialic acid-containing homo- and hetero-polysaccharides have been measured . The spectra are shown to be influenced by the state of ionization of the carboxyl groups contained in the sialic acid, the location within the individual sialic acid residues of the inter-saccharide linkages, and changes in the configuration of hydroxyl groups remote to the carboxyl group of the sialic acid. Am J Clin Pathol, 1976 Sep, 66(3), 605 - 9 Regression-line analysis of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Prior RB et al.; A standardized disk diffusion test was developed and used to test the susceptibility of 102 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to combinations of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) by relating zone diameters of inhibition to minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC's) . MIC's for TMP/SMX in ratios of 1:20 ranged from 0.08/1.52 to 2.5/47.5 mug/ml and zones of inhibition ranged from 34 to 10 mm . The coefficient of correlation (r) was -0.75 . For comparison, a regression line was similarly calculated for ampicillin . MIC's ranged from 0.02 to 0.32 mug/ml and zones of inhibition ranged from 50 to 31 mm; r was -0.71 . With establishment of MIC breakpoints to define the categories, susceptible, intermediate, and resistant, the disk duffusion test would be as reliable for estimating susceptibility of gonococci to TMP/SMX as for estimating susceptiblity to ampicillin. J Bacteriol, 1976 Sep, 127(3), 1579 - 81 Temperature-sensitive mutants of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Wharton RD et al.; Nine temperature-sensitive (Ts) mutants of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain 49191 were isolated . They were proven to be different from each other by results of transformation experiments . None of the Ts mutations appeared to be linked to antibiotic resistance genes from strain 24392 . However, Ts-9 demonstrated 8% linkage with a nalidixic acid resistance marker from strain RW-2. Jpn J Antibiot, 1976 Sep, 29(9), 789 - 900 {In vitro antibacterial effects of spectinomycin and penicillin G on Neisseria gonorrhoeae singly and in combination (author's transl)}; Ohtsuki M; The antibacterial effects of spectinomycin and penicillin G on clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were studied . The concentrations of penicillin G at which the isolates showed drug sensitivity ranged widely from 0.011 to 6.25 mug/ml . Some of the isolates were resistant to penicillin G . Sensitivity to spectinomycin was observed at the drug concentrations ranging from 3.13 to 12.5 mug/ml . About 60% of the isolates were sensitive to 6.25 mug/ml of spectinomycin, and those isolates which were resistant to penicillin G showed good sensitivity to spectinomycin . No correlation in sensitivity was noted between the two drugs . Tests for their bactericidal activities on bouillon media revealed that the addition of spectinomycin at the concentration of 12.5 mug/ml or over produced a marked bactericidal effect in a short time while penicillin G exhibited a bactericidal or bacteriostatic effect depending upon the concentration used . A synergistic effect of a penicillin and an aminoglycoside antibiotic was observed in these isolates of N . gonorrhoea as was in the isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Where penicillin G and spectinomycin were used in combination, a simultaneous addition of both the drugs produced the most marked synergistic effect . Morphology of N . gonorrhoeae cells exposed to either of these drugs was examined under a scanning electron microscope . Exposure to spectinomycin at the level of 6.25 mug/ml resulted in almost no morphological change . At 6.25 mug/ml of the drug, however, a roughened cell surface, a bleb-like structure or a state suggesting the loosening of such a bleb-like structure was noted . The addition of penicillin G at 0.19 mug/ml led to an impairment of cell division at one hour of exposure and to cell swelling and lysis with further exposure . At 1.19 mug/ml of the drug, these processes of cell swelling and lysis took place early. Can J Microbiol, 1976 Aug, 22(8), 1113 - 9 Antibody production in milk serum of goats experimentally infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Pasieka AE et al.; Instillation of the goat's mammary gland with Neisseria gonorrhoeae colony type T1 has elicited and antibody response in the goat milk serum (GMS) . Purification, and characterization of the GMS by gel filtration, electrophoresis, immunodiffusion, analytical ultracentrifugation, and serological analyses demonstrated thtat the active immune component was mainly in the IgA and IgG fractions (F2 and F3) of GMS. J Infect Dis, 1976 Aug, 134(2), 128 - 34 Clinical correlation of strain differentiation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Tramont EC et al.; An in vitro bactericidal assay that utilized a set of 20 typing antisera to Neisseria meningitidis was developed to distinguish differences in strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae based on patterns of killing . When test conditions were rigidly standardized, the method was sensitive and reproducible . Strains of gonococci from 20 unrelated patients had 20 different patterns of killing . Sets of strains of N . gonorrhoeae that were likely to be identical on the basis of clinical histories were examined . Organisms isolated from consorts reacted in an identical fashion in seven of nine instances . The two nonidentical sets of strains from consorts were also different in their antibiotic sensitivity patterns . The case history of one patient suggested that one of these strains was obtained from a source of infection other than the named consort, and a second patient was reinfected with a strain from her partner four months later . Four sets of strains were cultured at different intervals after appropriate therapy . On the basis of bactericidal patterns, the strains from one patient were the same, a finding that suggested treatment failure; the strains from other patients were not identical, a fact that suggested that patients were reinfected. J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Aug, 4(2), 129 - 32 Carbon dioxide requirement of Neisseria gonorrhoeae growing on a solid medium; Platt DJ; A survey of 120 isolations of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from male patients showed that 47 (39%) isolates were unable to produce visible colonies without a supply of exogenous carbon dioxide . Of 63 strains, 25 strains required CO2 for isolation but none exhibited a CO2 requirement beyond subculture 4 . CO2-requiring strains deprived of CO2 appeared to lose their colony-forming ability exponentially in an environment otherwise conductive to growth . The CO2 requirement was found to be linked to the initiation of growth . An agar-to-agar replica-plating device was used to study the early stages of colonial growth . The CO2 requirement was also found to correlate with the various phases of the colony growth cycle, such that it was required during lag phase, not required during the phase of rapid growth, and returned as colonies aged . These results are discussed. J Med Microbiol, 1976 Aug, 9(3), 263 - 73 The adherence of pilate and non-pilate strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to human and guinea-pig epithelial tissues; Tebbutt GM et al.; Strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae adhered to pieces of human endocervix and appeared to be embedded in the surface mucus . Although a pilate strain adhered better than a non-pilate strain, the difference was small and pilation did not appear to be exclusively responsible for adherence . The pilate strain showed better adherence to pieces of human ectocervix and fallopian tube, but both strains were similarly adsorbed to human bronchus and guinea-pig uterus, cervix, male urethra and bladder, although to different degrees for different tissues . Since gonococci adhered to all tissues examined, their ability to infect human endocervix and fallopian tube and their failure to infect human ectocervix or guinea-pig urogenital tract mucosae are determined by factors other than a capacity for primary adherence to the tissue. J Gen Microbiol, 1976 Aug, 96(2), 353 - 63 Penetration of penicillin into human phagocytes containing Neisseria gonorrhoeae: intracellular survival and growth at optimum concentrations of antibiotic; Veale DR et al.; Phagocytes obtained from fresh human buffy coat (predominantly polymorphonuclear phagocytes) or from human buffy coat which had been incubated on a glass surface for 1 to 3 days (predominantly mononuclear phagocytes) were allowed to ingest gonococci, and then incubated with penicillin . More intracellular gonococci were killed at high than at low penicillin concentrations, indicating that penicillin penetrated the phagocytes . This was supported by autoradiography experiments with radiolabelled penicillin . A pilated, small-colony-forming gonococcal strain survived and multiplied for at least 15 h in polymorphonuclear phagocytes which were incubated with penicillin at the optimum concentration for killing the extracellular bacteria but not the intracellular ones; whereas a non-pilated, large-colony-forming strain survived for only 10 h . The former strain survived for at least 6 h in similar experiments with mononuclear phagocytes . Intracellular survival and in growth may be an important facet of the pathogenicity of gonococci. J Bacteriol, 1976 Aug, 127(2), 874 - 80 Phospholipid composition and phospholipase A activity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Senff LM et al.; Exponential-phase cells of Neisseria gonorrhaeae 2686 were examined for phospholipid composition and for membrane-associated phospholipase A activity . When cells were harvested by centrifugation, washed, and lyophilized before extraction, approximately 74% of the total phospholipid was phosphatidylethanolamine, 18% was phosphatidylglycerol, 2% was cardiolipin, and 10% was lysophosphatidylethanolamine . However, when cells still suspended in growth medium were extracted, the amount of lysophosphatidylethanolamine decreased to approximately 1% of the phospholipid composition . This suggests that a gonococcal phospholipase A may be activated by conditions encountered during centrifugation and/or lyophilization of cells preceding extraction . Phospholipase A activity associated with cell membranes was assayed by measuring the conversion of tritiated phosphatidylethanolamine to lysophosphatidylethanolamine . Optimal activity was demonstrated in 10% methanol at pH 8.0 to 8.5, in the presence of calcium ions . The activity was both detergent sensitive and thermolabile . Comparisons of gonococcal colony types 1 and 4 showed no significant differences between the two types with respect to either phospholipid content or phospholipase A activity. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1976 Aug, 114(2), 399 - 402 Fatal Neisseria (Branhamella) catarrhalis pneumonia in an immunodeficient host; McNeely DJ et al.; A 64-year-old man with far-advanced IgA multiple myeloma presented with fulminant and rapidly fatal bronchopneumonia . Gram stains of expectorated sputum and of transtracheal aspirate revealed gram-negative intracellular and extracellular diplococci . Cultures of these specimens yielded Neisseria catarrhalis . Subsequent histologic examination of the lung confirmed the presence of numerous gram-negative diplococci in the alveolar spaces . The pathogenic potential of this nasopharyngeal commensal is discussed in both the normal and the immunosuppressed host. Br J Vener Dis, 1976 Aug, 52(4), 246 - 9 Autolysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Relation between mechanical stability and viability; Elmros T et al.; The relationship between the mechanical stability and the viability of N . gonorrhoeae (Type 4) in suspension was investigated . A correlation between viability and optical density recordings was often found . However, in spite of increased mechanical stability in solutions with low pH (5-2) or containing Cu++ or sucrose (10 per cent.), these environments were toxic to the gonococci . A viability preserving effect by Mg++ (4 mM), Ca++ (4 mM), spermine (0-5 mM), polyvinylpyrrolidone (10 per cent.), and low temperature (4 degrees C) was demonstrated . The possibility of improving transport media for gonococci is discussed. Can Med Assoc J . 1976 Jul 3;115(1):20. Letter: The IUD and PID; Kendall W; PIP: A 1974 survey of 191 cases of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in a health clinic in Vancouver revealed that: 1) ages were between 15-31 years; 2) 19.3% of the cases isolated from the cervical canal were diagnosed as Neisseria gonorrhoeae; 3) 64 women (33.5%) wore IUDs; 4) a dilatation and curettage or other "invasive" gynecologic procedure had been performed in the preceding 3 years in 55 cases (28.8%); 5) treatment for gonorrhea had been given in the past in 61 cases (33.3%); 6) 149 cases of 1st onset PID (78%) N . gonorrhoeae was isolated in 29 (2 0%), an IUD was worn in 50 (35.5%), and a preventive gynecologic procedure had been performed in 40 (26.6%); and 7) all the women were sexually active and most had a history of sequentially monogamous relationships . Prior to inserting an IUD the physician should acquire more information on the woman's past and present lifestyle and should give a thorough gynecologic investigation as a precautionary measure in preventing PID or as an impetus for earlier treatment . J Infect Dis, 1976 Jul, 134(1), 59 - 66 Chemical and biological characterization of the lipopolysaccharide of Bacteroides fragilis subspecies fragilis; Kasper DL; Bacterial lipopolysaccharides extracted from Bacteroides fragilis subspecies fragilis lacked 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate and heptose, sugars which make up part of the inner core of most bacterial endotoxins . Over 98% of the lipid portion of this material could be removed easily with chloroform-methanol and alcohol, a finding which indicates a loose association between the polysaccharide and lipid moieties . The lipopolysaccharides caused gelation of limulus lysate at a concentration significantly higher than that for the endotoxin of Salmonella typhi . None of the extracts was lethal in 10-day-old chick embryos at doses of greater than 200 mug per egg, whereas the endotoxin of Neisseria meningitidis was lethal at a dose of 1.2 mug per egg . The local Shwartzman reaction could not be induced by levels of B . fragilis endotoxin of up to 1,000 mug per rabbit, whereas a (control) endotoxin of S . typhi induced this phenomenon at a level of 3 mug per rabbit . Intact oxygen-killed B . fragilis failed to provoke the local Shwartzman reaction at doses of 2,500 mug . These results indicate that B . fragilis has a lipopolysaccharide different from that of most gram-negative bacteria . Although it retains some of the chemical and biologic properties of classical endotoxin, it seems to lack others . This observation may have significant clinical implications. Ann Intern Med, 1976 Jul, 85(1), 82 - 6 Rifampin; Sanders WE Jr; In 1971, rifampin was approved for treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis and asymptomatic carriers of Neisseria meningitidis . At present, the approved indications remain the same . However, rifampin in conjunction with at least one other antituberculous drug may be of great value in therapy of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and infections due to other susceptible mycobacteria . In addition, results of clinical trials in leprosy have been highly encouraging . Rifampin appears to induce light chain proteinuria in a majority of patients and has been implicated in suppression of both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses . However, these effects appear to have been of little consequence to treated patients . A variety of possibly immunologically mediated reactions to rifampin has been closely associated with irregular administration of the drug . These reactions and hepatic toxcity may be preventable in many patients . Rifampin or one of its congeners, alone or in combination with other antibiotics, may prove useful in treatment of various infectious, and possibly malignant, diseases. J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Jul, 4(1), 19 - 21 Evaluation of methods for the rapid identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in a routine clinical laboratory; Pollock HM; Of 78 isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 21 failed to grow and produce acid in unsupplemented cystine-Trypticase agar (CTA); whereas positive reactions were obtained by using serum-supplemented CTA and fluorescent antibody (FA) . An additional 290 strains of Neisseria were evaluated by FA and by a rapid carbohydrate degradation technique (RF) . There was agreement between the two methods 92% of the time on the initial trial and 99% of the time with repeats on discrepancies . The RF and FA tests provided rapid and reliable identification of N . gonorrhoeae, alleviating the problems of CTA due to lack of growth and need for overnight incubation. J Bacteriol, 1976 Jul, 127(1), 168 - 78 Lipids of Branhamella catarrhalis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Beebe JL et al.; Three strains of Branhamella catarrhalis and three strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were analyzed with regard to their phospholipid and neutral lipid composition . B . catarrhalis (ATCC 23246) contained 5.12 +/- 0.34% lipid, determined gravimetrically, compared to 8.56 +/- 0.15% and 9.73 +/- 0.06% for two strains of N . gonorrhoeae . Cardiolipin, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidyl-ethanolamine were identified in extracts of both species . In addition, B . catarrhalis contained small amounts of phosphatidylcholine, and N . gonorrhoeae contained small amounts of lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine, which accumulated with autolysis accompanying late cell culture growth . The kinetics of change of relative amounts of phospholipids in both species were measured and found to differ substantially . Neutral lipid accounted for 30.4% of the total lipid of B . catarrhalis (ATCC 23246) and 7.6% of the total lipid of N . gonorrhoeae NYH 002 . Hydrocarbons, triglycerides, free fatty acids, coenzyme Q, diglycerides, and free hydroxy fatty acids were identified in the neutral lipid fraction of both species . The three strains of N . gonorrhoeae, sensitive, intermediate, and resistant to penicillin, exhibited no significant difference in the composition or metabolism of phospholipid. J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Jul, 4(1), 71 - 81 Genetic Transformation as a tool for detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Janik A et al.; A rapid method for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, making use of the ability of deoxyribonucleic acid samples from clinically isolated strains of this organism to transform nutritional mutants of a particular strain of N . gonorrhoeae, has been described . In addition to using isolated cultures, transforming deoxyribonucleic acid can be obtained directly from the material that adheres to swabs of the cervix or the urethra . The time interval for transfer of swabs to the diagnostic laboratory is not a significant factor . It is not necessary to use pure cultures on primary isolation plates to obtain definitive results . Nongonorrhoeae neisserias, as well as a large variety of commonly encountered unrelated bacteria, do not react or interfere in the transformation assay when using one of the mutant strains under a standardized set of conditions . The entire assay can be completed in less than 24 h . It has also been shown that type T4 cells of the strain of N . gonorrhoeae employed in the present study are competent for genetic transformation, although type T4 cells are transformed at a significantly lower frequency than are type T2 cells of the same strain. J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Jul, 4(1), 87 - 91 Isolation and characterization of a bacteriophage specific for Neisseria perflava; Steinberg VI et al.; Six isolates from normal throat samples have been shown to contain phage active against Neisseria perflava . The phage isolates were similar in terms of host range, latent period, burst size, antigenic properties, morphology, and nucleic acid content . Neutralization studies with antisera demonstrated that the isolates exhibited a very high degree of serological relatedness . These results taken together suggested that the isolates represented a single strain of bacteriophage . This phage, which we have designated NP-1, exhibited a high degree of host specificity, attacking only one of the several strains of N . perflava tested and none of the other species tested . One-step growth experiments yielded minimum latent periods of approximately 35 min; average burst sizes varied from 34 to 63 plaque-forming units per cell . Electron micrographs revealed particles with heads averaging 75 nm in diameter and tails averaging 300 nm in length and 18 nm in diameter . The phage contained double-stranded DNA with a guanine plus cytosine content of 38%. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1976 Jun, 84(3), 139 - 44 Identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in cultures from tonsillo-pharyngeal specimens by means of a slide co-agglutination test (Phadebact Gonococcus Test); Menck H; A slide co-agglutination test (Phadebact Gonococcus Test) for the serological identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was assessed on gonococcal-like, oxidase positive colonies from 120 cultures, originating from about 6,500 consecutive tonsillo-pharyngeal specimens received at the Neisseria Department, Statens Seruminstitut . The test was performed after subculture on a serum-free medium, since this procedure was found to reduce the number of strains showing inconclusive reactions (pseudo co-agglutination) . If this pseudo co-agglutination does occur, however, the test can be repeated with the addition of trypsin to the test system . This causes the previously inconclusive reactions to be reverted to clearly positive reactions in the case of gonococci, and to clearly negative reactions in more than half of the previously inconclusive reactions with other bacterial strains . The results obtained by the Phadebact Gonococcus Test were compared with those obtained by bacteriological identification procedures . Fifty-six of the 120 cultures examined contained gonococci, and all strains were identified by the slide co-agglutination test (five strains with the addition of trypsin) . The remaining 64 cultures were negative or exhibited consistently pseudo co-agglutination (eight strains) . The specificity and sensitivity of the reagent was further confirmed by the examination of 53 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and 50 strains representing Neisseria species commonly occurring in tonsillo-pharyngeal specimens . The Phadebact Gonococcus Test was considered to be a reliable alternative to routine bacteriological identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. J Bacteriol, 1976 Jun, 126(3), 1297 - 304 Electrophoretic comparison of endonuclease-digested plasmids from Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Foster RS et al.; In order to associate virulence in Neisseria gonorrhoeae with an alteration of the nucleotide sequence of its small covalently closed plasmid, plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid was isolated from both virulent (T1) and avirulent (T3) morphological types for two strains . Electrophoretic and contour length measurements of intact plasmids indicated a homogeneous population with a molecular weight of approximately 2.6 x 10(6) . Digestion with two restriction endonucleases . Hinf I and Hpa II, generated distinct fragment patterns which in each case were identical for T1 and T3 plasmid molecules from the same strain . The analysis suggests no sequence differences between the plasmids from virulent and avirulent types . For both strains, however, a deletion or addition of about 1.5% of the total deoxyribonucleic acid appeared in the Hpa II C digestion fragment when patterns for gonococci serially passaged 300 times were compared to those for bacteria freshly established from frozen stocks . The significance of the plasmid instability remains undetermined. J Bacteriol, 1976 Jun, 126(3), 1180 - 5 Chemical composition and turnover of peptidoglycan in Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Hebeler BH et al.; The peptidoglycan of all four colonial types of a number of strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae constituted 1 to 2% of the dry weight of the cell . The chemical composition of cell types examined was similar with molar ratios of 1:1:2:1:1 for muramic acid, glucosamine, alanine, glutamic acid, and diaminopimelic acid, respectively . Ninety-six percent of the mass of the peptidoglycan was composed of these compounds . A lipoprotein analogous to that observed in Escherichia coli was not detected . The chain length of the glycan varied from 80 to 110 disaccharide units . The peptide contained equimolar amounts of D- and L-alanine . The rate of turnover of peptidoglycan in strain RD5 was 50% per generation . Turnover proceeded without a lag and followed first-order kinetics. Br J Vener Dis, 1976 Jun, 52(3), 176 - 7 Influence of copper salts on gonococci; Johannisson G et al.; No difference in the incidence of gonorrhoea was observed at a venereal disease clinic between women using a copper-coil intrauterine device (IUD) and women using oral contraceptives . Experiments in vitro demonstrated that copper sulphate has a deleterious effect on Neisseria gonorrhoeae, but the presence of serum protects the gonococci from the toxic effect of copper ions. Br J Vener Dis, 1976 Jun, 52(3), 172 - 5 Rapid carbohydrate utilization test for the identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Young H et al.; A rapid carbohydrate utilization test for the identification of N . gonorrhoeae was investigated, with reference to its use in a routine diagnostic laboratory . The rapid test was shown to give accurate results in agreement with those of a conventional serum-free sugar medium . Because of the shorter time taken for the confirmation of an isolate, and several other advantages, it is proposed that the rapid test is an extremely useful alternative to conventional sugar tests . Immunofluorescence was also used to identify isolates of N . gonorrhoeae and the rapid carbohydrate utilization test was found to assist in differentiating between N . gonorrhoeae and N . meningitidis when equivocal or negative immunofluorescence results were obtained. Br J Vener Dis, 1976 Jun, 52(3), 170 - 1 The goat mammary gland as a model infection site for Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Pasieka AE et al.; Live and formalin-killed gonococci were instilled into the mammary glands of lactating and nonlactating goats . In lactating goats viable gonococci elicited a limited inflammatory process whereas in non-lactating goats, severe inflammation and swelling appeared and peaked on the 3rd day after instillation and persisted for about 10 days . No viable gonococci were recovered after the first day, but fluorescent antibody staining showed gonococci in the exudate from non-lactating goats up to 7 days after instillation. Ann Intern Med, 1976 Jun, 84(6), 712 - 6 Drugs five years later . Spectinomycin; McCormack WM et al.; A single intramuscular injection of 0.2 g of spectinomycin hydrochloride is highly effective for the treatment of uncomplicated anogenital infections with Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Spectinomycin hydrochloride is indicated for uncomplicated anogenital gonococcal infections in men and women who cannot receive penicillin or probenecid, and is the drug of choice for the retreatment of patients with uncomplicated anogenital gonococcal infection who have not responded to other antibiotics . A single dose of spectinomycin does not appear to be reliably effective in the treatment of gonococcal pharyngitis . Preliminary reports indicate that multiple-dose schedules of spectinomycin will prove to be effective in gonococcal pelvic inflammatory disease and disseminated gonococcal infection . In the dosage used for gonococcal infections, spectinomycin has little effect on infection with Treponema pallidum . Evaluation of this antibiotic against other microorganisms suggests little utility for this agent in conditions other than gonococcal infections. J Bacteriol, 1976 Jun, 126(3), 1186 - 93 Mechanism of autolysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Hebeler BH et al.; The major autolysin(s) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was solubilized from envelopes by extraction with 2% Triton X-100 containing 0.5 M NaCl . Neither Triton X-100 nor NaCl alone could effectively release the autolysin(s) . The major autolysin is N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanine amidase (EC 3.5.1.28) . The pH optimum for this reaction was broad, ranging from 5.5 to 8.5 . Optimal hydrolysis of peptidoglycan occurred in 2% Triton X-100 in 0.1 M KCl . Attempts to purify the autolysin were unsuccessful . A rapid assay for enzyme activity was developed using radioactive cell walls as a substrate ({3H}diaminopimelic acid). Br Med J, 1976 May 22, 1(6020), 1245 - 7 Group B streptococci in the female genital tract; Finch RG et al.; Vaginal carriage rates of group B streptococci among 250 women attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases, 123 attending family planning clinics, and 110 in labour wages were 36.0%, 17-1% and 6.4% respectively . The presence of group B streptococci was not associated with a vaginal discharge or the use of oral contraceptives in the non-pregnant women, or with the isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Trichomonas vaginalis from the women attending the clinic for sexually transmitted diseases . Serotyping showed a predominance of types II and III in non-pregnant women and an overall incidence of non-typable strains of 14.8% . There was no relationship between serotype and antibacterial susceptibility. Infect Immun, 1976 May, 13(5), 1510 - 6 Characteristics of atypical Neisseria gonorrhoeae from disseminated and localized infections; Morello JA et al.; Approximately 6% of 1,200 clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were atypical because they produced smaller than normal colonies on conventioal chocolate agar and fermented glucose weakly . Auxotyping studies indicated that these atypical strains required for growth arginine, uracil, and, in most instances, hypoxanthine . In addition, all of them were susceptible to 0.02 U of penicillin/ml . None of the normal colony isolates, including those susceptible to the same low concentration of penicillin, had the same nutritional characteristics . Atypical strains comprised almost half of the isolates from disseminated infections, but only 5% of those from localized infections . Auxotyping was used to identify the contact of a patient who became reinfected nine times with an atypical gonoccal strain . In addition to its usefulness in such epidemiological studies, this technique has enabled us to distinguish a subgroup of gonococci with apparent increased pathogenicity. J Infect Dis, 1976 May, 133(5), 568 - 71 The lack of effect of ampicillin plus probenecid given for genital infections with Neisseria gonorrhoeae on associated infections with Chlamydia trachomatis; Oriel JD et al.; Forty-six men were successfully treated with a single oral dose of ampicillin (2 g) plus probenecid (1 g) for urethral infections with Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from cultures of cells obtained from 11 of these men both before and after treatment; C . trachomatis was isolated from one man before but not after treatment and from three men after but not before treatment . No isolates were obtained from the remaining 31 men either before or after treatment . Of the 15 patients whose cultures yielded C . trachomatis, 12 developed postgonococcal urethritis; of the 31 patients from whose cultures no isolate was obtained, five developed postgonococcal urethritis . Of 44 women successfully treated with ampicillin plus probenecid for cervical infections with N . gonorrhoeae, 18 had C . trachomatis isolated from the cervix both before and after treatment . C . trachomatis was isolated from five women before but not after treatment and from two women after but not before treatment . No isolates were obtained from the remaining 19 women either before or after treatment . Thus ampicillin plus probencide in the dosage used rarely eliminated C . trachomatis from the genital tract of either men or women . Whereas men with a persisting chlamydial infection will probably develop postgonococcal urethritis and thus receive appropriate treatment, such an infection in women is not likely to be suspected unless attempts are made to isolate C . trachomatis. J Clin Pathol, 1976 May, 29(5), 433 - 7 Evaluation of a new technique for the demonstration of gonococci and other micro-organisms in host cells; Sowter C et al.; A method (Gram-MGPLG) for demonstrating micro-organisms was compared with Gram and four other known methods . Each method was tested on tissue infected with Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which were then fixed in Bouin's formol saline, formol sublimate, or Van de Grift solutions . Gram-positive organisms in tissues were easily seen even at low magnification when stained by several of the methods tested . Gram-negative organisms, however, are very difficult to locate when stained by Gram's method because tissue components and the organisms are all shades of red, whereas the Gram-MGPLG provided easier location of organisms because these are stained red while the nuclei are blue and connective tissue is green . All methods are markedly affected by fixation; better preservation of cytological detail and improved staining reactions were produced by fixative containing mercuric chloride. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1976 May, 29(5), 511 - 5 Gardimycin, a new antibiotic from Actinoplanes . III . Biological properties; Arioli V et al.; The new antibiotic gardimycin has an interesting in vitro antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Parenteral administration gives a high degree of protection against experimental infections in mice . It also shows some chemotherapeutic activity when given rectally. J Bacteriol, 1976 May, 126(2), 969 - 76 Autolysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Elmros T et al.; Autolysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was studied under different conditions . It was found that low pH and temperature, as well as the presence of divalent cations, spermine, sucrose, and polyvinylpyrrolidone, stabilized nongrowing gonococci . Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid alone promoted lysis, whereas lysozyme had only a limited additive effect . The autolytic behavior of gonococci appears to be connected with their prolonged cell division process . The relative dependence on the outer membrane and the peptidoglycan layer for the mechanical stability of gonococci is discussed. J Urol . 1976 Apr;115(4):471. Neisseria catarrhal urethritis: a case report; McCague JJ et al.; A case of Neisseria catarrhal urethritis presenting with a gonorrhea-like discharge is reported . Prior treatment was not a factor in its isolation and the patient responded well to penicillin. Can J Microbiol, 1976 Apr, 22(4), 460 - 7 Studies on the cellular and free lipopolysaccharides from Branhamella catarrhalis; Johnson KG et al.; Cellular and free lipopolysaccharides obtained from Neisseria catarrhalis and Branhamella catarrhalis were found to be essentially identical . Both cellular and free lipopolysaccharides contained core-oligosaccharides of the following composition: D-glucose (4 mol), D-galactose (1 mol), 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose (1 mol), and 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid . Aldoheptose and phosphate components were below levels of detection . Several physical methods indicated that all core-oligosaccharide preparations were identical . Lipid A preparations from cellular and free lipopolysaccharides of both organisms were qualitatively and quantitatively similar; they were composed of decanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, 3-hydroxy dodecanoic acid, 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose, phosphate, and ethanolamine . The results tend to justify the transfer of Neisseria catarrhalis to the genus Branhamella. Aust Dent J, 1976 Apr, 21(2), 111 - 8 Cigarette smoking and the microbial flora of the mouth; Colman G et al.; A range of selective media was used to culture the microbial flora of the dental plaque, tongue and palate, The subjects were five young men who smoked more than twenty cigarettes a day and four who did not smoke . Neisseriae were less numerous on the mucosal surfaces of the smokers. Jpn J Microbiol, 1976 Apr, 20(2), 77 - 82 Type and strain variation in induction of L forms of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Ota F et al.; Strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were inoculated onto brain heart infusion (Difco) agar supplemented with penicillin and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a stabilizer and cultivated in a candle extinction jar . L-form colonies became visible after a few days . They continued to grow and were viable for up to 38 days . The extent of inducibility of L forms of N . gonorrhoeae was examined semiquantitatively . It was found to be constant for each type and strain and to depend only slightly on the amount of penicillin added to the medium . None of the types of one strain produced L-form colonies . In another strain, avirulent types (T3, T4) showed more ability to produce L forms than virulent types (T1, T2) and no L forms were produced by the subtypes of T1 and T2-T1a and T2a . In a third strain, only T4 produced L forms . Electron microscopic studies showed that the L forms consisted of a number of membranous vesicles and a variety of cell types such as those completely lacking cell walls and those with only remnants of cell walls . The results indicate the existence of subtypes of T1 and T2 of gonococci and the intrinsic inducibility of gonococcal types and strains to produce L forms. Infect Immun, 1976 Apr, 13(4), 1273 - 88 Antigenic analysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by crossed immunoelectrophoresis; Smyth CJ et al.; Crossed immunoelectrophoresis was used to study two complex antigenic preparations from Neisseria gonorrhoeae, one of cytoplasmic origin and the other derived by Triton X-100 extraction of isolated washed gonococcal envelopes, with the aim of developing suitable reference antigen-antibody systems that could be subsequently used to investigate the immune response to gonococcal infection and to monitor envelope preparations for cytoplasmic contamination . A number of parameters were investigated to optimized and standardize antigen preparation, e.g., harvesting and washing of gonococci, methods of bacterial disruption, and washing of envelopes . The effects of Triton X-100 concentration, initial total envelope protein concentration, and the composition, pH, and concentration of buffer on cell envelope extractability were studied to obviate the need to concentrate material before use in crossed immunoelectrophoresis . The electroendoosmotic properties of agarose were a major determining factor in resolving envelope antigens . From 25 to 30 immunoprecipitates were revealed in the envelope antigen-antibody system; 75 to 80 were revealed in the cytoplasmic sytem . Envelope immunoprecipitates with reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and lactate dehydrogenase activities were identified . Crossed immunoelectrophoresis with intermediate gels revealed the presence of antibodies in a preimmune rabbit antiserum pool to a distinctive fact-moving component in both the envelope and cytoplasmic antigen preparations . The intermediate gel technique also demonstrated that extensive washing of envelope preparations with buffer did not remove cytoplasmic ontamination completely . The method provides a much more sensitive means of monitoring the purity of envelope fractions than the use of single enzy,e markers as indexes of such contamination . The use of rabbit antisera raised to formolized gonococci in intermediate gels indicated that both reference antigen-antibody systems were of potential use in screening immune responses to N . gonorrhoeae. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1976 Apr, 84(2), 85 - 92 Separation of Neisseria meningitidis competence variants by sucrose gradient centrifugation; Jyssum K; Transformable (cp+) and non transformable (cp-) variants of the Neisseria meningitidis Strain M1 could be separated on the basis of their sedimentation velocity in sucrose gradients . The cp+ cells sedimented slightly more slowly than the cp- ones . This supports previous observations that the change from cp+ to cp- is followed by alterations in cell structures . In cp+ populations, the transformable fraction banded with the bulk of the cells in sucrose gradients, indicating that the density of the phenotypically competent cell is identical to the rest of the cp+ population. Br J Vener Dis, 1976 Apr, 52(2), 142 - 5 Cell envelope of Neisseria gonorrhoeae . A comparative study with Escherichia coli; Wolf-Watz H et al.; The cell envelope of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was studied and compared to that of Escherichia coli . Outer membranes (OM) from both species were isolated by an identical method, and subjected to biochemical analysis . Differences in OM structure were sought that might explain the dissimilarity in OM permeability of these two species . The most pronounced difference appeared to reside in the OM proteins as judged by gel electrophoresis . Moreover, gonococcal OM proteins appeared to be more hydrophilic than those of E . coli. Br J Vener Dis, 1976 Apr, 52(2), 136 - 41 Scanning electron microscopy of Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Age-induced changes in macro- and microstructure of virulent and avirulent colonies; Elmros T et al.; Virulent and avirulent gonococcal colonies were studied in the scanning electron microscope . Cells in virulent, in contrast to avirulent, colonies were found to be connected by numerous strands . After longer incubation periods, type 2 colonies segregated out regions of cells virtually lacking these strands . Cells within these areas probably represent avirulent segregants . The microstructure of individual colonies revealed no topographical differences . In certain colonies large smooth spherical cells were seen, probably representing wall-deficient gonococcal variants. Br J Vener Dis, 1976 Apr, 52(2), 124 - 7 Immune response to a purified cytoplasmic protein of Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Kwapinski JB et al.; This paper describes studies based on the hypothesis that the immunogenicity of the gonococcus is impaired by a component toxic to immunocytes . Cytoplasm of colony type 1 gonococci was found to contain a protein fraction beta+t not present in colony type 4 gonococci . From the results of further analysis it is tentatively deduced that beta+t consists of a toxic component Tbeta-t and an immunogen. J Infect Dis, 1976 Apr, 133(4), 441 - 7 Immunity in infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae: duration and serological response in the chimpanzee; Arko RJ et al.; Relative and absolute resistance to urethral and pharyngeal infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae persisted for up to two years in male chimpanzees parenterally immunized with a colony type 2 gonococcal antigen . Twelve additional adult males were immunized with either a colony type 1 gonococcal antigen or a sham diluent before being challenged with the immunizing isolate of N . gonorrhoeae . Serum specimens were obtained throughout the immunization procedure and tested for indirect fluorescent, bactericidal, microhemagglutinating, and complement-fixing antibody to the immunizing isolate of N . gonorrhoeae . The serological response measured by the indirect fluorescent antibody and serum bactericidal tests correlated most closely with the resistance of individual chimpanzees when they were challenged in the pharynx and urethra with graduated doses of N . gonorrhoeae one month after the last immunization . In this study, the resistance of the immunized chimpanzees to urethral infection with N . gonorrhoeae varied from one to greater than 1,000 times that of sham-injected controls. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1976 Apr, 31(4), 612 - 4 Selective isolation of Neisseria sicca from the human oral cavity on eosin methylene blue agar; Querido NB et al.; Strains of Neisseria sicca and N . mucosa, but not N . perflava, N . subflava, N . flava, or N . flavescens were found to grow on eosin methylene blue agar . The distribution of N . sicca on the tongue dorsum, the gingival crevice area, and the coronal surfaces of teeth of humans was determined using this medium . N . sicca averaged about 5% of the total cultivable organisms of the tongues of 14 subjects examined, but it was present in only trace quantities in dental plaque on the coronal surfaces of teeth or in the gingival crevice area. J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Apr, 3(4), 438 - 42 Fluorescent antibody test for the serological diagnosis of gonorrhea; Gaafar HA et al.; An indirect fluorescent antibody technique has been developed for the serological diagnosis of gonorrhea . The selected strain(s) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae possesses a heat-labile surface antigen (L-antigen) . Sera are diluted 1:10, and an aliquot is hear inactivated at 59 C for 30 min . The