Effect of growth in serum on uptake of neisseria gonorrhoeae by human neutrophils

Bradley Britigan, Myron S. Cohen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Because serum exposure precedes interaction of invasive Neisseria gonorrhoeae with neutrophils, neutrophil association with gonococci grown in serum was assessed. Uptake of a nonpiliated serum-resistant strain grown in 20% serum was reduced to 63.5% of control values. Heated serum (20%) yielded similar results. Stimulation of hexose monophosphate shunt activity in neutrophils by heated serum-grown gonococci (a phenomenon reflecting phagocytosis) was 64.5% of control values. Because gonococcal outer membrane (OM) structures mediate interaction with neutrophils, lithium acetate-treated OM preparations of gonococci grown in heated serum were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Multiple new protein bands and a quantitative decrease in amounts of proteins I, II, and III were noted. However, a decrease in the amounts of these membrane proteins was not observed with alternative membrane extraction techniques. Gonococcal growth in 20% serum dialyzed in 3, 500-molecular-weight exclusion tubing allowed normal neutrophil association and OM protein expression.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)330-338
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume152
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 1985
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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