Bacteriocin Production by Strains of Neisseria meningitidis

Abstract

Kingsbury, David T. (Naval Medical Research Institute, Bethesda, Md.). Bacteriocin production by strains of Neisseria meningitidis . J. Bacteriol. 91: 1696–1699. 1966.—Strains of Neisseria meningitidis produce substances inhibitory to other strains of meningococcus. These substances are nontransmissible and show a high degree of strain specificity. The properties of one of these substances resemble those of the class of bacterial inhibitors called bacteriocins. Synthesis of this “meningocin” can be increased as much as 200-fold by induction with mitomycin C. It shows a high degree of heat stability and is sensitive to proteolytic enzymes. Six bacteriocins from strains of N. meningitidis have been used to type meningococci. By use of this procedure, strains that were identical serologically were placed into distinct bacteriocin groups.