The Systematic Serology of Neisseria Gonorrhoeae: Antigens Associated with Pathogenesis in Neisseria Spp. from Man

Department of Bacterial Immunology, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Calcutta-700032, India Received September 12, 1983 Accepted April 17, 1984 Sonicates of eight Neisseria species from man were analysed in a micro-Ouchterlony double-diffusion absorption assay in comparison with a gonococcal reference antiserum-antigen system. Five major gonococcal precipitin zones were identified which comprised genus-, species- and type-specific components. One antigen was found in all strains of three species with pathogenic capability— N. gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis and N. flavescens . It was not detected in N. lactamica, N. pharyngis, N. elongata, N. cinerea or N. catarrhalis .