Studies on Gonococcus Infection.

摘要

The purpose of work carried out under the auspices of this contract has been the study of gonococcal interactions with eukaryotic cells. The results that were obtained are summarized below: (1) Pili enhance attachment of gonococci to tissue culture cells in vitro. (2) Pili enhance attachment of gonococci to human sperm, in vitro. (3) Interactions between gonococci and peripheral blood leukocytes are modulated, primarily, by a surface component of gonococci that is distinct from pili and has been called 'leukocyte association factor'. Gonococci are killed by leukocytes after this initial interaction. (4) Presence or absence of leukocyte association factor plays no role in the interactions between gonococci and tissue culture cells. (5) Gonococci can be easily labelled with 125 Iodine by the lactoperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide method. (6) Leukocyte association factor does not influence the virulence of gonococci as assessed in a subcutaneous model in the mouse or in the 11 day old chick embryo model. (7) Pili reduce the interactions between gonococci and mouse peritoneal macrophages, in vitro. This interaction is not influenced by 'leukocyte association factor.'