Interaction of human serum transferrin with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, demonstrated by agglutination and precipitation.
Human sera show non-immune precipitation with ultrasonically disrupted bacteria of the N. gonorrhoeae strain 8551. A human serum was resolved by DEAE cellulose chromatography and immune absorption to isolate the serum component involved in the precipitation. Testing of the final product against antisera to various serum proteins and analysis by SDS-PAGE revealed only serum transferrin. This preparation and transferrin obtained commercially produced precipitation in agar gel against the gonococcal extract. The bacterium was agglutinated by transferrin in solution or when carried by latex particles, and particles sensitized with the bacterial extract were agglutinated by transferrin. Four out of 26 gonococcal strains examined showed reactivity with transferrin in the precipitation and agglutination tests.
D000372:Agglutination Tests; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism*
D014168:Transferrin