RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Virji, M. A1 Heckels, J. E.YR 1984 T1 The Role of Common and Type-specific Pilus Antigenic Domains in Adhesion and Virulence of Gonococci for Human Epithelial Cells JF Microbiology, VO 130 IS 5 SP 1089 OP 1095 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-130-5-1089 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2080, AB A panel of monoclonal antibodies with varying pilus specificities ranging from cross-reacting to type-specific has been used to investigate the role of conserved and variable antigenic domains in the adhesion of gonococci to human epithelial cells. The binding of 125I-labelled α pili from strain P9 to buccal epithelial cells was inhibited by three type-specific but not by two cross-reacting antibodies. Four type-specific antibodies inhibited the binding of γ pili while the two cross-reacting antibodies were again without effect. The virulence of the variants P9-2 (α pili) and P9-35 (γ pili) for Chang conjunctiva epithelial cells was similarly reduced only in the presence of relevant type-specific antibodies. These results indicate the importance of variable antigenic domains in the adhesion of gonococci to human epithelial cells., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-130-5-1089