Scanning electron microscope study of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Morphological studies utilizing various microscopy techniques have aided in our understanding of the gonococcus and gonorrhea. In this study scanning electron microscopy was used to study differences in virulent (colony types 1 and 2) and avirulent (colony types 3 and 4) gonococci relative to colony appearance, patterns of growth in liquid media, and surface features of individual cocci. Colony types of virulent gonococci are smaller in diameter but have a higher evaluation than those of avirulent mutants. Colony type 2 has a convex undersurface that is associated with surface pitting of solid media. When the colonies are grown in liquid media, various degrees of autoagglutination are observed; this is most pronounced with type 2 and least evident with type 4. Although pili may be involved in this phenomena, other mechanisms must be employed, since type 3 gonococci that lack pili autoagglutinate. Pili are seen on types 1 and 2 and are absent from types 3 and 4. They appear as individual threads radiating from the bacteria or as bundles of pili attaching adjacent cocci. Another extracellular structure consists of small spherical bodies that can coat the bacteria surface, attach to pili, or exist free from other bacterial components. These spheres are least evident with type 4. The gonococcal surface is pebbly with multiple sulci.