Open AccessA surface polysaccharide forms when gonococci are converted to serum resistance by cytidine 5′‐monophospho‐ N ‐acetyl neuraminic acid
Author(s) -
Fox Andrew J.,
Curry Alan,
Rowland Patricia L.,
Lancaster Sylvia,
Jones Dennis M.,
Parsons Nicholas J.,
Cole Jeffrey A.,
Smith Harry
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1990.tb03975.x
Subject(s) - neuraminic acid , neisseria gonorrhoeae , incubation , microbiology and biotechnology , subculture (biology) , cytidine , polysaccharide , agar , biology , neisseriaceae , bacteria , chemistry , biochemistry , sialic acid , enzyme , antibiotics , genetics
A serum‐susceptible, guinea‐pig chamber‐passaged, laboratory strain (BS4 (agar)) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was converted to serum resistance by incubation with cytidine 5‐monophospho‐ N ‐acetyl neuraminic acid (CMP‐NANA) and examined by electron microscopy after straining with ruthenium‐red. In contrast to serum susceptible gonococci incubated without CMP‐NANA, the majority (60–70%) of the serum resistant organisms showed a surface accumulation of polysaccharide. This surface polysaccharide was enhanced on all the resistant gonococci after incubation with fresh human serum. Control susceptible gonococci were devoid of the polysaccharide after incubation with heated human serum. Indentical results were obtained with a fresh gonococcal isolate which had lost serum resistance on subculture but wich, in common with 3 other isolates, was restored to serum resistance by incubation with CMP‐NANA.