Pyocin-resistant lipopolysaccharide mutans of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: alterations in sensitivity to normal human serum and polymyxin B

Abstract

Pyocins from Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used to select several lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mutants of N. gonorrhoeae strain FA19. Three classes of LPS mutants were found in the initial group selected for study. The LPS of 1 class lacked galactose. That of a 2nd group lacked the typical heptose found in the parental LPS, was reduced in glucose, galactose and N-acetylglucosamine content, appeared to contain a new unidentified sugar component and consisted of 2 species of LPS separable on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. The LPS of a 3rd strain lacked the heptose, glucose, galactose and N-acetylglucosamine found in the oligosaccharide portion of parental FA19 LPS. The minimal inhibitory concentration for polymyxin B of the mutant strains was 3-4 times that of the parental strain. The strains lacking only galactose were as resistant as the parent to the bactericidal action of normal human serum, but cells of the other 2 classes were quickly killed by serum. Gonococcal LPS thus appears to be important in determining phenotypic properties of the cells.