McCutchan J A, Levine S, Braude A I
J Immunol. 1976 Jun;116(6):1652-5.
The virulence of gonococci is related to colony morphology and has been attributed to pili found only on the virulent types. Because complement-mediated serum killing is a major defense against other Gram-negative bacteria, we tested the resistance to normal human serum of virulent and avirulent types from two strains. Virulent types were more resistant than avirulent types. This stable, relative serum resistance of virulent colony types persisted during prolonged passage on agar. In addition, virulent types acquired complete resistance after exposure to serum which was rapidly lost during passage on agar. This acquired, complete resistance helps explain the observation that freshly isolated gonococci are resistant to their host's serum, but lose this resistance when passed on agar. The capacity to become resistant to the serum of newly infected patients may contribute to virulence of T1 and T2 gonococci.
淋球菌的毒力与菌落形态有关，并且一直被认为与仅在有毒力类型中发现的菌毛有关。由于补体介导的血清杀伤是抵御其他革兰氏阴性菌的主要防御机制，我们测试了来自两株菌株的有毒力和无毒力类型对正常人血清的抗性。有毒力类型比无毒力类型更具抗性。这种有毒力菌落类型稳定的相对血清抗性在琼脂上长期传代过程中持续存在。此外，有毒力类型在接触血清后获得了完全抗性，但在琼脂上传代时迅速丧失。这种获得性的完全抗性有助于解释以下观察结果：新鲜分离的淋球菌对其宿主的血清具有抗性，但在琼脂上传代时会失去这种抗性。对新感染患者血清产生抗性的能力可能有助于T1和T2淋球菌的毒力。
