Clinical Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolate with a N. meningitidis porA gene and no prolyliminopeptidase activity, Sweden, 2011: danger of false-negative genetic and culture diagnostic results

Euro Surveill. 2012 Mar 1;17(9):20102.

Abstract

We describe a Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain, found in Sweden in 2011, that harbours a N. meningitidis porA gene causing false-negative results in PCRs targeting the gonococcal porA pseudogene. Furthermore, the strain had no prolyliminopeptidase (PIP) activity that many commercial biochemical kits for species verification in culture rely on. Enhanced awareness of the spread of such strains and screening for them can be crucial.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aminopeptidases / genetics*
  • Aminopeptidases / metabolism
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Enzyme Activation
  • False Negative Reactions
  • Female
  • Gonorrhea / diagnosis
  • Gonorrhea / genetics
  • Gonorrhea / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / enzymology
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / genetics*
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / isolation & purification*
  • Neisseria meningitidis / genetics*
  • Neisseria meningitidis / isolation & purification*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Porins / genetics*
  • Pseudogenes / genetics*
  • Sweden

Substances

  • Porins
  • porin protein, Neisseria
  • Aminopeptidases
  • prolyl aminopeptidase