The Development of L Phase Variants of Pathogenic 'Neisseria' and Their Pathogenicity in Experimental Animals.
Abstract
Transformation to L phase growth was demonstrated in all but 4 of 97 fresh clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorroeae. Preliminary studies of the correlation between penicillin susceptibility and the incidence of transformation to L phase growth indicated that strains of high susceptibility to penicillin transformed at a low rate, whereas strains of low susceptibility transformed at a high rate. Comparison of the rates of transformation within 3 groups showed that 75% of sensitive strains transformed at the low rate and 74% of resistant strains transformed at the high rate. Strains of intermediate susceptibility transformed at low and high rates in a random distribution. The observation suggests that the changes which accompany increased resistance to penicillin are also concerned with the potential of gonococci to multiply in L phase. Cervical mucus aspirated from normal females at intervals during the menstural cycle was inoculated with small numbers of gonococci, then subcultured after 6 hours' incubation. The results demonstrated that gonococci mixed with mucus obtained near the time of ovulation were not reduced in number. In contrast, specimens obtained during the latter part of the cycle showed an inhibitory effect on the bacteria. (Author Modified Abstract)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 16, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0758705
Entities
People
- Josephine A. Morello
- Marjorie A. Bohnhoff
Organizations
- University of Chicago