The similarity in polynucleotide sequence of seven strains of Neisseria lactamicus to N. meningitidis and to each other was investigated. The per cent reassociation between single-stranded N. lactamicus deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), immobilized on membrane filters, with labeled single-stranded DNA fragments derived from strain SD-6 (group C) of N. meningitidis varied from 75 to 56. With strain A...

The lectin slide agglutination test for Neisseria gonorrhoeae has been modified and improved. Results show that wheat germ agglutinin and soybean lectin agglutinate 100% (193 of 193 tested) of clinical isolates of N. gonorrhoeae. Lectin-reactive meningococci can be readily identified by the hydrolysis of gammaglutamyl-3-naphthylamide. Branhamella catarrhalis, Neisseria lactamica, Neisseria sicc...

Two new site-specific endonucleases, N1a III and N1a IV, have been isolated from Neisseria lactamica. N1a III recognizes the sequence, CATG, and cleaves 3' of the sequence to produce a four base 3' extension. N1a IV recognizes the sequence, GGNNCC, and cleaves between the two N's to produce blunt ended fragments.

Saliva was found to be a powerful and specific inhibitor of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Although 28 other species of bacteria were tested, including Neisseria meningitidis, Neisseria pharyngis var flava, Neisseria lactamica, and Neisseria catarrhalis, we failed to find any others sensitive to saliva under similar conditions. The physical properties of the inhibitory substance indicated that it might...

The two-partner secretion (TPS) systems of Gram-negative bacteria consist of a large secreted exoprotein (TpsA) and a transporter protein (TpsB) located in the outer membrane. TpsA targets TpsB for transport across the membrane via its ∼30-kDa TPS domain located at its N terminus, and this domain is also the minimal secretory unit. Neisseria meningitidis genomes encode up to five TpsAs and two ...

A hybridoma derived from a mouse immunized with gonococcal outer membranes produced an antibody, designated H.8, that bound to all strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis tested, and to N. lactamica and N. cinerea, but only rarely to other nonpathogenic Neisseria species. Studies with the gonococcal strain used in production of the antibody showed that the antibody bound to a surfa...

The sialylation of the lipooligosaccharide (LOS) of Neisseria meningitidis is mediated by the LOS sialyltransferase enzyme encoded by the lst gene. PCR using four sets of primers that targeted to different regions of the lst gene was used to survey the distribution of lst in different serogroups and LOS immunotypes of N. meningitidis as well as other Neisseria species. While the lst gene was fo...