Phagocyte recognition of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Human monocytes show an increased ability to bind pilate rather than non-pilate gonococci. Polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) do not discriminate between pilate and non-pilate variants. PMN, however, bind appreciably more gonococci (either pilate or non-pilate) than monocytes. The results help to explain the role of pili on gonococci as virulence factors and in the immune response.