The occurrence of 1,2-propanediol oxidoreductase in micro-organisms and its use as a possible diagnostic marker for Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The cervical microbial flora of 25 females and stock cultures of various micro-organisms which may be present in the human female cervix were examined using a fluorimetric assay for 1,2-propanediol oxidoreductase. Results indicated that only members of the genera Neisseria and Acinetobacter possess appreciable activities of the enzyme, whose physiological function is not yet known. The activity of this enzyme in N. gonorrhoeae appeared to be significantly higher than the activities observed in mot of the other Neisseria species and in the Acinetobacter species. These results indicated that it may be possible to utilize this enzyme as a presumptive diagnostic marker for N. gonorrhoeae in cervical secretions. 1,2-Propanediol oxidoreductase may also be of taxonomic significance for the classification of various bacterial species.