title: Serological classification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with use of monoclonal antibodies to gonococcal outer membrane protein I.
abstract: Identification of strain-specific markers on Neisseria gonorrhoeae that are capable of differentiating gonococci into a large number of distinct classes could facilitate analysis of patterns of gonorrhea transmission and application of gonorrhea control measures. A panel of 12 monoclonal antibodies to gonococcal outer membrane protein IA (PrIA) and IB (PrIB) was used to classify 1,433 strains serologically in a worldwide survey. Eighteen PrIA and 28 PrIB serovars were identified, and a nomenclature is proposed. Gonococcal strains were classified further by auxotyping. Auxotyping and serotyping served to classify the 1,433 isolates into 107 unique auxotype/serovar classes. Dual classification by auxotype and serovar can be used to identify epidemiologically related gonococcal infections in order to test the effectiveness of innovative, focused measures to control gonorrhea.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011392:Proline / Q000494:pharmacology; D012703:Serotyping; D009626:Terminology as Topic
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D001120:Arginine; D011392:Proline