title: Diagnostic value of interactions between members of the family Neisseriaceae and lectins.
abstract: The lectin slide agglutination test for Neisseria gonorrhoeae has been modified and improved. Results show that wheat germ agglutinin and soybean lectin agglutinate 100% (193 of 193 tested) of clinical isolates of N. gonorrhoeae. Lectin-reactive meningococci can be readily identified by the hydrolysis of gamma-glutamyl-beta-naphthylamide. Branhamella catarrhalis, Neisseria lactamica, Neisseria sicca, Neisseria subflava, Neisseria perflava, and meningococcal serogroups A, B, C, X, Y, and Z do not interfere with the positive identification of N. gonorrhoeae. The frequently encountered problem of autoagglutination of members of the family Neisseriaceae may be circumvented by a short treatment of cellular suspensions with DNase. Based on agglutination assays, the enzyme treatment did not result in a loss of wheat germ agglutinin receptors from the bacteria. The lectin agglutination test, coupled with the gamma-glutamyl aminopeptidase assay, is proposed as a rapid and accurate means of identifying clinical isolates of gonococci.
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000032:analysis; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000494:pharmacology; D037102:Lectins; D009346:Neisseriaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D037121:Plant Lectins; D030262:Soybean Proteins; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins
chemical_list: D000626:Aminopeptidases; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D030262:Soybean Proteins; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; C028824:soybean lectin; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins