A total of 112 Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains representing protein I serogroups WI, WII, and Will and six auxotypes were tested for their ability to reduce nitrite. All strains reduced 0.001% (wt/vol) potassium nitrite (KNO2) within 24 h and 0.01% (wt/vol) KNO2 within 48 h. None of the strains reduced 0.1% (wt/vol) KNO2 even after incubation at 37°C for 5 days, and the strains could not be cultured from these tests after incubation for 24 h. Thus, all of the N. gonorrhoeae strains tested were nitrite sensitive but were able to reduce subtoxic concentrations of KNO2. Nitrite reduction is a species characteristic for N. gonorrhoeae.
BergerU.1970; Untersuchungen zur Reduktion von Nitrat und Nitrit durch Neisseria gonorrhoeae und Neisseria meningitidis. Z. Med. Mikrobiol. Immunol 156:86–89
CatlinB. W.1973; Nutritional profiles of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Neisseria lactamica in chemically defined media and the use of growth requirements for gonococcal typing. J. Infect. Dis 128:178–194
KnappJ. S.,
TottenP. A.,
MulksM. H.,
MinshewB. H.1984; Characterization of Neisseria cinerea: a nonpathogenic Neisseria sp. isolated on Martin-Lewis medium selective for pathogenic Neisseria spp. J. Clin. Microbiol 19:63–67
MorelloJ. A.,
BohnnoffM.1980; Neisseria and Branhamella. 111–130LennetteE. H.,
BalowsA.,
HauslerW. J.Jr,
TruantJ. P.Manual of clinical microbiology, 3rd. American Society for Microbiology; Washington, D.C.:
ReynA.1974; Genus I. Neisseria Trevisan. 428–432BuchananR. E.,
GibbonsN. E.Bergey’s manual of determinative bacteriology, 8th. The Williams & Wilkins Co; Baltimore:
SandstromE. G.,
ChenC. K. S.,
BuchananT. M.1982; Serology of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Coagglutination serogroups WI and WII/III correspond to different outer membrane protein I molecules. Infect. Immun 38:462–470
VeraH. D.,
PowerD. A.1980; Culture media. 965–999LennetteE. H.,
BalowsA.,
HauslerW. J.Jr,
TruantJ. P.Manual of clinical microbiology, 3rd. American Society for Microbiology; Washington, D.C:
WhiteL. A.,
KelloggD. S.Jr1965; Neisseria gonorrhoeae identification in direct smears by a fluorescent antibody counterstain method. Appl. Microbiol 13:171–174