Metabolic analysis of serologically defined Neisseria meningitidis isolates by frequency-pulsed electron capture gas-liquid chromatography.

Eight serogroups [A, B, C, D, X, Y, 29E [Z'], and W135] along with nongroupable and nontypable strains of Neisseria meningitidis were cultured in a defined liquid medium. The whole-culture spent medium was extracted, derivatized, and analyzed by frequency-pulsed electron capture gas-liquid chromatography. The frequency-pulsed electron capture gas-liquid chromatography profiles were then used to group the organisms on the basis of their metabolic profiles. First, two basic groups were formed which consisted of elevated spent-medium compounds and reduced spent-medium compounds. Then, these two basic groups were further subdivided on the basis of metabolites and cellular fatty acids detected in the spent medium to form a total of seven metabolic groups. The nongroupable strains (with the exception of two strains) fell within one of these metabolic groups. The elevated spent-medium compounds group contained all of the A, B, Y, and Z' strains, and the reduced spent-medium compounds group contained most of the C and all of the W135 and D strains. The potential usefulness of the metabolic group scheme is discussed.