Cannon J G, Sparling P F
Annu Rev Microbiol. 1984;38:111-33. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.38.100184.000551.
Despite the inherent limitations imposed by working with an organism that still has a very limited genetic map and relatively few systems for manipulation of the genome, much has been learned in the past decade. Recent applications of the technology of monoclonal antibodies and recombinant DNA, coupled with careful studies of the immunobiology of pili and various outer membrane structures have provided exciting insights into the molecular pathogenesis of gonococcal infections. One of the principal lessons is the sophistication of the gonococcal strategies for evading the host defenses, including high-frequency variations of pili and P.II and an extracellular protease for specific cleavage of IgA1. It is unclear how much antigenic variation will limit vaccine development. Regardless, the pursuit of a vaccine has led to important new fundamental knowledge of the genetics and structure-function relationships of several cell surface components, and the future promises to be both rational and interesting.
尽管在研究一种遗传图谱仍然非常有限且基因组操作体系相对较少的生物体时存在固有的局限性，但在过去十年中已经学到了很多东西。单克隆抗体技术和重组DNA技术的最新应用，再加上对菌毛和各种外膜结构免疫生物学的仔细研究，为淋球菌感染的分子发病机制提供了令人兴奋的见解。一个主要的经验教训是淋球菌逃避宿主防御策略的复杂性，包括菌毛和P.II的高频变异以及一种用于特异性切割IgA1的细胞外蛋白酶。目前尚不清楚抗原变异会在多大程度上限制疫苗的开发。无论如何，对疫苗的追求已经带来了关于几种细胞表面成分的遗传学和结构-功能关系的重要新基础知识，未来有望既合理又有趣。
