title: Changes in penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in London.
abstract: To investigate changes in the gonococcal population over time, the plasmid content, serotype and auxotype have been determined for strains of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) isolated from patients attending the Praed Street Clinic for Sexually Transmitted Diseases between 1978 and 1987. Three distinct changes have been identified: (i) in the main plasmid type, from PPNG with the 3.2-Mda plasmid before 1982 to strains with the 4.4-Mda plasmid between 1982 and 1985; (ii) the decline during this time of strains also carrying the 24.5-Mda conjugal plasmid; (iii) the re-emergence of PPNG with the 3.2-Mda plasmid in 1986. The three typing methods used have identified eight clusters of strains which have been prevalent in different years between 1978 and 1987.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, Paddington, London.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ison
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Easmon
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010405:Penicillinase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010957:Plasmids; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D010405:Penicillinase