title: Possible mechanism of decreased susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to penicillin.
abstract: By use of (14)C-labeled benzyl penicillin, it has been established that beta-lactamases and/or acylases play no role in the resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to penicillin. It has been found, however, that very susceptible strains of the organisms (minimal inhibitory concentration, 0.008 mug/ml) bind 10 to 15 times as much penicillin as do moderately to highly resistant strains of the gonoccoccus (minimal inhibitory concentration, 0.125 to 2.0 mug/ml). It is postulated that this degree of change in binding components of the whole cell and whole cytoplasmic membrane is sufficient to account for the decreased susceptibility of the organism to penicillin.
mesh_terms: D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000187:drug effects*; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D010405:Penicillinase / Q000378:metabolism; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins; D010405:Penicillinase