Clinical Correlation of Strain Differentiation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Abstract

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.

Strain differentiation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by reverse passive hemagglutination

“…Glynn and Ward (10), using a bactericidal test, separated 60 strains of N. gonorrhoeae into four broad groups, but each contained cross-reacting strains. These observations were consistent with findings of Tramont et al (24), demonstrating antigenic similarities and differences between strains of gonococci. Crossprotection studies in the guinea pig chamber model indicated the presence of shared antigens among different strains of N. gonorrhoeae (2).…”

“…The close antigenic relationship between N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis is well documented (5,24). Therefore, it was not surprising to find that antibody isolated from gonococcal cell walls agglutinated FPHE coated with extracts of meningococci (Armstrong, unpublished data).…”

Heterogeneity of molecular size and antigenic expression within lipooligosaccharides of individual strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis

“…Given their antigen similarities, the LOS of the two Neisseria species show greater physical variation between one another than we expected (12,21,22). In contrast, the antigenically diverse meningococcal LOS (6, 26; Griffiss et al., in press) were physically rather homogeneous.…”

Problems posed by potential gonococcal vaccines viewed from the vantage point of a control agency.

“…Recently, the potential for immunoprophylaxis against Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococci) has received attention from research laboratories, despite the well-known observation that disease caused by this organism does not confer immunity against reinfection (Tramont et al, 1976). Progress in the field of gonococcal-host interaction has been enriched by several observations:…”