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. 1990 May;58(5):1355–1359. doi: 10.1128/iai.58.5.1355-1359.1990

Isolation of Neisseria meningitidis mutants deficient in class 1 (porA) and class 3 (porB) outer membrane proteins.

J Tommassen 1, P Vermeij 1, M Struyvé 1, R Benz 1, J T Poolman 1
PMCID: PMC258632  PMID: 2157669

Abstract

The class 1 major outer membrane protein of Neisseria meningitidis is a serious candidate for a meningococcal vaccine. To facilitate studies on the function of this protein, mutants were isolated that lacked this protein or the structurally related class 3 protein. These mutants were obtained by using the antibody-dependent bactericidal action of the complement system. The class 1 protein-deficient strain grew normally in vitro, whereas growth of the class 3 protein-deficient strain was slightly retarded. The class 3 protein-deficient strain displayed increased resistance to the antibiotics tetracycline and cefsulodin, which is consistent with the proposed role of the protein as a pore-forming protein. The class 1 protein was purified to homogeneity from the class 3 protein-deficient strain. Lipid bilayer experiments revealed that this protein also formed pores. The class 1 protein pores were cation selective.

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Selected References

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