Ultrastructural Study of Cervical Gonorrhea

Abstract

An ultrastructural examination of the squamocolumnar junction of the cervix of patients infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae is described. Gonococci were found to become firmly attached to stratified squamous epithelium, a process that appeared to be initiated by activity of the cytoplasmic membrane of superficial squames. By contrast, gonococci were not found attached to, or even closely associated with, mucus-secreting columnar epithelium. Gonococcal growth, as evidenced by numbers of organisms and surface vesicle formation, appeared most active in cervical secretions, chiefly on exfoliated squames, but also lying free. Survival after phagocytosis by polymorphonuclear leukocytes was found not to be unique to gonococci, and it is suggested that continual phagocytic recycling minimizes the significance of this occurrence. It seems probable that persistence of gonorrhea in the female depends upon the adherence of gonococci to stratified epithelium, where they are protected from phagocytosis, and the infectivity of gonorrhea arises from the ability of gonococci to divide rapidly on the surface of exfoliated squames, from where they are released into secretions.

Influence of type IV pilus retraction on the architecture of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae-infected cell cortex

“…A number of microscopy studies have explored the ultrastructure of the N. gonorrhoeae-infected epithelial cell 3D ultrastructure of N. gonorrhoeae infection cortex and the bacterial microcolony (Edwards et al, 2000;Evans, 1977;McGee et al, 1983;Steichen et al, 2008;Stephens, 1989;Swanson, 1983;Ward & Watt, 1972). GC are often seen to attach as microcolonies and to induce dramatic alterations to host cell microvilli, particularly at the microcolony periphery.…”

“…Microvilli beneath GC microcolonies are numerous and appear elongated (Evans, 1977;Griffiss et al, 1999;McGee et al, 1981;Mosleh et al, 1997;Stephens, 1989;Tjia et al, 1988;Ward et al, 1974). We examined GC-infected cells by SEM to determine the role of Tfp in microvillus architecture.…”

“…The relationship between the cortical plaque and the microcolony is dynamic. As the microcolony crawls over the cell surface, the cortical plaque migrates with it (Higashi et al, 2007).The microcolony-host cell interface is therefore an important focus of study.A number of microscopy studies have provided important information on the ultrastructure of the infected host cell surface (Edwards et al, 2000;Evans, 1977;Griffiss et al, 1999;McGee et al, 1981;Mosleh et al, 1997;Stephens, 1989;Tjia et al, 1988;Ward et al, 1974). Microvilli are numerous at sites of infection, and they appear to be elongated and deformed.…”

Mucosal Immunity and Evasion Strategies of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

“…In men, PMNs appear in urethral swabs and urine several days after infection and immediately prior to the onset of symptoms (Cohen and Cannon, 1999). In women with gonorrhea, the cervical secretions also contain PMNn (Evans, 1977) and bacteria are attached to and within PMNn (Johnson and Criss, 2011). In spite of the numerous PMNn at the site of gonorrheal infection, viable gonococci can be cultured from the exudates of infected individuals (Wiesner and Thompson, 1980).…”

Cellular adhesion molecules as targets for bacterial infection

“…More specifically, CEACAM engagement by human pathogens appears to blunt an innate defense mechanism of stratified and squamous epithelial tissues, namely the exfoliation of superficial cells. Importantly, different non-opaque gonococcal variants cause detachment of epithelial cells after prolonged infection in culture, and such an exfoliation of urethral cells has been reported to occur during gonorrhea in vivo (Apicella et al, 1996;Evans, 1977;Melly et al, 1981;Mosleh et al, 1997;Ward et al, 1974). In striking contrast, prolonged infection with CEACAM-binding gonococci does not result in epithelial exfoliation (Muenzner et al, 2005).…”