Open AccessEffect of subminimal inhibitory concentrations of antimicrobial agents on the piliation and adherence of Neisseria meningitidis
Author(s) -
Bjørn-Erik Kristiansen,
L Rustad,
Oddvar Spanne,
Bjarne Bjorvatn
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.24.5.731
Subject(s) - lincomycin , neisseria meningitidis , microbiology and biotechnology , in vivo , in vitro , antimicrobial , minimum inhibitory concentration , antibiotics , pilus , chemistry , biology , bacteria , biochemistry , escherichia coli , genetics , gene
Neisseria meningitidis is known to be highly resistant to lincomycin (minimum inhibitory concentration greater than 32 micrograms/ml). However, during studies on meningococcal piliation, we noticed a significant reduction in the number of pili after cultivation on lincomycin-containing selective media. This observation was followed up by in vitro and in vivo studies on the relation between lincomycin and meningococcal adherence to human epithelial cells. We found a remarkable decrease in in vitro piliation and adherence after exposure to lincomycin at concentrations as low as 0.05 micrograms/ml. By giving four healthy meningococcal carriers lincomycin orally for 3 to 6 days, the possible in vivo effect of lincomycin was studied. A marked decrease in the meningococcal counts of the pharyngeal secretion was observed. One person completely lost his meningococcal strain during the observation period.