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Visualisation and Quantification of Intracellular Interactions of Neisseria meningitidis and Human α-actinin by Confocal Imaging
12:58

Visualisation and Quantification of Intracellular Interactions of Neisseria meningitidis and Human α-actinin by Confocal Imaging

Published on: October 24, 2010

Unusual antineisserial activity expressed by a systemic isolate of Neisseria meningitidis. antimeningococcal effect

J Allunans1, K Bøvre

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Oslo, Rikshospitalet, Norway.

Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
|August 23, 2001
PubMed

Insights

A Neisseria meningitidis strain (77/79A) exhibits potent antineisserial activity, inhibiting over 84% of tested isolates. This activity, potentially mediated by a ~52 kDa component, varied based on meningococcal strain characteristics.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacteriology
  • Antimicrobial Activity

Background:

  • Neisseria meningitidis is a significant human pathogen.
  • Understanding strain-specific interactions is crucial for controlling meningococcal disease.
  • Antimicrobial activities within bacterial populations can influence pathogen evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the antineisserial activity of Neisseria meningitidis strain 77/79A.
  • To characterize the susceptibility patterns of various meningococcal isolates to this activity.
  • To identify and partially purify the active component responsible for the antineisserial effect.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-streaking technique to assess inhibitory activity.
  • Testing of 271 Neisseria meningitidis isolates from diverse sources.
  • Purification of the active component using ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography.
  • Characterization of the purified component's stability and molecular mass via SDS-PAGE.

Main Results:

  • Over 84% of 271 meningococcal isolates showed sensitivity to strain 77/79A.
  • Serogroup A sulfonamide-resistant strains and non-groupable sulfonamide-sensitive isolates were highly susceptible.
  • Serogroup B sulfonamide-resistant isolates were predominantly insensitive or weakly sensitive.
  • The active component was bacteriostatic, partially trypsin-resistant, and heat-stable up to 90°C.
  • A ~52 kDa protein component was identified, though further characterization was limited.

Conclusions:

  • Neisseria meningitidis strain 77/79A possesses a broad-spectrum antineisserial activity.
  • The susceptibility of meningococcal isolates is linked to their specific characteristics, such as serogroup and antibiotic resistance.
  • The identified ~52 kDa component represents a potential bacteriostatic agent with implications for understanding meningococcal population dynamics.

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