Cytidine 5'-monophospho-N-acetyl neuraminic acid and a low molecular weight factor from human blood cells induce lipopolysaccharide alteration in gonococci when conferring resistance to killing by human serum.
Recently evidence has been obtained that a minute amount of cytidine 5'-monophospho-N-acetyl neuraminic acid (CMP-NANA) or a closely related compound is the low Mr factor in human red blood cells which induces Neisseria gonorrhoeae (BS4(agar] to resistance to killing by fresh human serum. Induction of gonococci to resistance by both CMP-NANA and semi-purified low Mr factor from red blood cells was accompanied by a 35-55% reduction of silver staining of lipopolysaccharide separated in SDS-PAGE gels of proteinase K digests. These alterations in lipopolysaccharide are probably responsible for conferring serum resistance. However, lipopolysaccharide-containing digests from resistant as well as from susceptible gonococci neutralised serum bactericidal activity. These observations may have wider implications since CMP-NANA is a sialylating agent wide-spread in mammalian tissues and LPS is ubiquitous amongst Gram-negative pathogens.
Parsons
N J
NJ
Department of Microbiology, University of Birmingham, U.K.
Patel
P V
PV
Tan
E L
EL
Andrade
J R
JR
Nairn
C A
CA
Goldner
M
M
Cole
J A
JA
Smith
H
H
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D003569:Cytidine Monophosphate N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000097:blood*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001685:Biological Factors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012794:Sialic Acids; D003569:Cytidine Monophosphate N-Acetylneuraminic Acid