title: Effect of subminimal inhibitory concentrations of antimicrobial agents on the piliation and adherence of Neisseria meningitidis.
abstract: Neisseria meningitidis is known to be highly resistant to lincomycin (minimum inhibitory concentration greater than 32 micrograms/ml). However, during studies on meningococcal piliation, we noticed a significant reduction in the number of pili after cultivation on lincomycin-containing selective media. This observation was followed up by in vitro and in vivo studies on the relation between lincomycin and meningococcal adherence to human epithelial cells. We found a remarkable decrease in in vitro piliation and adherence after exposure to lincomycin at concentrations as low as 0.05 micrograms/ml. By giving four healthy meningococcal carriers lincomycin orally for 3 to 6 days, the possible in vivo effect of lincomycin was studied. A marked decrease in the meningococcal counts of the pharyngeal secretion was observed. One person completely lost his meningococcal strain during the observation period.
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D008034:Lincomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D008034:Lincomycin