Effect of environment on sensitivity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriocins.

The effect of environmental variation on the susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to pyocin produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa was examined. Susceptibility to at least one pyocin was demonstrated in strains of N. gonorrhoeae (99%), N. meningitidis (35%), and N. lactamica (47%). The degree of sensitivity to pyocin displayed by N. gonorrhoeae was affected by varying the pH of the growth environment. Gonococcal strains were more sensitive to growth inhibition by pyocins at an alkaline pH and less sensitive to growth inhibition at an acid pH. Inhibitory titers fluctuated during nonselective subculture of fresh clinical isolates. There was no apparent correlation between auxotype and sensitivity to pyocin. Also, no relationship between colony morphology and pyocin sensitivity was seen.