# GONOCOCCAL ATTACHMENT TO HUMAN FALLOPIAN TUBE MUCOSA

> **NIH NIH R01** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 1988 · $150,240

## Abstract

The objectives of this research program are 1) to determine the pathogenic
mechanisms by which Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes disease and 2) to develop
immunologic or other methods for blocking those pathogenic mechanisms.  Two
major phases of the interaction of gonococci with viable, intact human
genital epithelium (fallopian tube mucosa in organ culture) have been
defined - the "attachment phase" and the "invasion phase".  To investigate
the molecular mechanisms of attachment and invasion, techniques have been
developed for quantitating attachment of gonococci to human fallopian tube
mucosa, for assessing invasion of mucosal cells by gonococci, and for
determining the ultrastructural location of specific gonococcal
macromolecules using gold sphere-antibody complexes.  In the proposed
studies gonococcal attachment to human fallopian tube mucosa will be
quantitated in the presence or absence of antibodies against antigens on
various gonococcal surface macromolecules (e.g., pili, lipopolysaccharide,
protein II).  This should help determine the molecular mechanisms by which
gonococci attach to human genital mucosal cells.  Similarly, assessments of
phagocytosis performed in the presence or absence of antibodies against
gonococcal surface macro-molecules should help determine the mechanisms by
which these macromolecules stimulate the invasion process.  The use of gold
spheres conjugated to these antibodies should  allow location of the
ultrastructural sites of interaction of these macromolecules with human
genital mucosal cells.  A number of laboratories are producing antibodies
against epitopes on various gonococcal surface macromolecules.  The
antigens used to produce and detect the antibodies are usually on purified
macromolecules (e.g., pilin subunits, protein I).  In viable gonococci
these antigens are not necessarily accessible for binding to
vaccine-elicited antibody.  A combination of the techniques described above
will be used to determine which parts of which gonococcal surface
macromolecules are accessible for interaction with host tissues as part of
the disease process and which parts of which gonococcal surface
macromolecules are accessible to antibody in viable gonococci.  This
information, coupled with information on the breadth of cross-reactivity of
the antigens identified, should help predict those parts of specific
gonococcal macromolecules most likely to be effective as components of a
gonococcal vaccine.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3129837
- **Project number:** 5R01AI020265-06
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LL8GLEVH6MG3
- **Principal Investigator:** ZEIL A MCGEE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $150,240
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1982-12-01 → 1988-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3129837

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3129837, GONOCOCCAL ATTACHMENT TO HUMAN FALLOPIAN TUBE MUCOSA (5R01AI020265-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3129837. Licensed CC0.

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