The lipopolysaccharide (R type) as a common antigen of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. II. Use of hen antiserum to gonococcal lipopolysaccharide in a rapid slide test for the identification of N. gonorrhoeae from primary isolates and secondary cultures

Abstract

An antiserum has been prepared in hens to R-type gonococcal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and used in a simple slide-agglutination test for the identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Anti-LPS serum agglutinated gonococcal cells representative of the four colony types of N. gonorrhoeae. Absorption of the antiserum with LPS removed the agglutinating activity. Secondary cultures (1120) were tested without observation of the colony type and all were agglutinated. No agglutination occurred with strains of Neisseria meningitidis, Neisseria lactamica, non-pathogenic Neisseria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Branhamella catarrhalis, or with species of lactobacilli and Acinetobacter. Cross-reactivity of the antiserum occurred with some streptococci. The anti-LPS serum was used to identify N. gonorrhoeae in primary isolates from the cervix, urethra, and pharynx. Of 251 gonococcal isolates tested, 249 were agglutinated by the antiserum, while all of the corresponding second cultures were agglutinated. The antiserum did not agglutinate N. meningitidis found in primary isolates from pharyngeal specimens. Anti-LPS hen serum should be useful for the rapid identification of N. gonorrhoeae in primary isolates or secondary cultures.

Effect of colony type and pH on surface charge and hydrophobicity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

“…In this respect, the effects of any variations in the structure of the gonococcal lipopolysaccharide may have a particularly important role in determining the physicochemical nature of the gonococcal surface. It has been shown that T1 variants may contain S type lipopolysaccharide (21), in addition to R type lipopolysaccharide (22,28), the only type found in T4 variants. Furthermore, T1 variants have a larger amount of acidic glycoses, N-acetylneuraminic acid and 2-ketodeoxyoctulosonic acid than T4 variants (30).…”

Analyses of gonococcal H8 antigen. Surface location, inter- and intrastrain electrophoretic heterogeneity, and unusual two-dimensional electrophoretic characteristics.

“…To determine if the H8 epitope was exposed on viable gonococci, slide agglutination assays were performed as described (20). Colonies from 18-h cultures, grown on clear-typing medium, were used.…”

Immunogenic and protective properties of meningococcal serotype 2a protein in the hen-embryo model

“…The specific protection of chicken embryos from hens immunised with formalin-killed group A meningococci (Diena et al, 1976(Diena et al, , 1978 suggested that the hen-embryo model might be useful for characterising the immunogenic properties of purified meningococcal antigens.…”

“…Previous studies have shown that the R-type LPS of N. gonorrhoeae is immunogenic in hens and that embryos obtained from immunised hens are protected against challenge with homologous and heterologous strains of N. gonorrhoeae (Diena et al, 1978a and b;Wallace et al, 1978). SP-2 contained c 10% of LPS and antibodies to common LPS determinants might be responsible for the protection.…”