The Adherence of Nesseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae to Human Embryonic Kidney Cells

摘要

The in vitro adherence of N. meningitidis isolates and N. gonorrhoeae colonial types to human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells was examined. Two of five serogroup B nasopharyngeal N. meningitidis isolates of different serotypes adhered to HEK cells, after one subculture from their initial isolation. All of the isolates possessed substantial numbers of pili after one subculture, and these results suggest that pili are not the sole mediators of adherence of N. meningitidis to HEK cells. Both pili and the ability of adhere were lost during seven subculturings. N. gonorrhoeae colonial type T sub 1 cells were found to readily adhere to HEK cells and to be heavily piliated. Non piliated N. gonorrhoeae colonial type T sub 4 cells were incapable of adherence to HEK cells. (Author)