ACTIVITY OF BACTERIOCIN‐LIKE AGENTS FROM NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS ON STRAINS ISOLATED FROM PATIENTS AND CARRIERS

Abstract

Strains of Neisseria meningitidis isolated from patients were more often completely insensitive to five bacteriocin‐like agents than carrier strains, but no particular bacteriocin type could be associated with patient strains. Two genetically distinct types of insensitivity could be separated by transformation. Insensitivity to four bactericidal agents (from the strains P201, P213, P241 and 99/79) was caused by one common genetic marker whereas insensitivity to a bacteriostatic agent (from the strain 77/79) was caused by another. Insensitivity to the bactericidal agents was more often found among strains belonging to serogroup B than among strains belonging to other groups. But group B strains from patients were more often insensitive than similar strains from carriers. Insensitivity to the bacteriostatic agent seemed evenly distributed among strains of various serogroups. All insensitive patient strains tested showed reduced binding/destruction of inhibitor, indicating that resistance and not tolerance is associated with patient strains.

Biogeography of Bacterial Communities and Specialized Metabolism in Human Aerodigestive Tract Microbiomes

“…S5). Bacteriocin production has previously been reported from N. gonorrhoeae ( 105 , 106 ) and N. meningitidis ( 107 – 110 ), but the molecules responsible for this activity have never been identified and the genetic loci have not been confirmed. Therefore, these uncharacterized BGCs may be responsible for the previously reported bacteriocin activity from N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis .…”

Bacteriocins (meningocins) in Norwegian isolates of Neisseria meningitidis: possible role in the course of a meningococcal epidemic

“…Control strains are shown in Table 3. Details of these N. meningitidis strains, their clinical background, epidemiological markers and storage, have been reported elsewhere (14–17, 22, 23).…”

“…In an earlier study the highest frequency of meningocin producers (13.5%) was found at the peak of the epidemic in North Norway during the first half of 1975 (13). Systemic serogroup B, Su R , isolates appeared more often to be resistant non-producers, or to be less sensitive towards meningocins than isolates of other serogroups (13)(14)(15). Among systemic isolates from the period 1981-1984, the agent characteristics B:15:P1, 16, ET-5 complex and Su R were predominant (80%; while serogroup A was virtually absent) and showed a strong association (16)(17)(18).…”