title: Presence of a capsule in Neisseria lactamica, antigenically similar to the capsule of N. meningitidis.
abstract: Three of thirteen strains of Neisseria lactamica, a species closely related to N. meningitidis, were selected on the basis of their ability to be strongly agglutinated by serogroup B antimeningococcal serum. The presence of a capsule was demonstrated using Alcian blue as a stain for acidic polysaccharide. When reacted with serogroup B antimeningococcal sera, 2 out of 3 N. lactamica B-coagglutanating strains exhibited an extracellular material comparable in size, antigenicity and staining properties to the capsule of serogroup B N. meningitidis.
mesh_terms: D000371:Agglutination; D000423:Alcian Blue; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D003429:Cross Reactions; D007106:Immune Sera; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009343:Neisseria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007106:Immune Sera; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D000423:Alcian Blue