title: Endotoxin release from invasive meningococci related to sulfonamide resistance, serogroup and serotype.
abstract: The relationship between endotoxin liberation, sulfonamide resistance, serogroups and serotypes was studied in 28 Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated from patients with meningococcal disease. Sulfonamide resistance was present in 15/28 strains. 22 strains belonged to serogroup B, and 5 to group C; 1 strain was non-groupable. Free endotoxin activity in growing cultures of meningococci with endotoxin titre of greater than or equal to 10(2) was found in 27/28 strains. A high endotoxin activity was present in both sulfonamide-sensitive and -resistant invasive meningococci. A high endotoxin release with titre greater than or equal to 10(3) seemed to be more associated with serogroup C than B, and more to the serotypes 2 and 15/16 than to the non-typable strains.
mesh_terms: D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012703:Serotyping; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D013449:Sulfonamides