A view of multiple drug resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Resistance to penicillin and tetracycline occurs in Neisseria gonorrhoeae yet the biochemical mechanism is unknown. Binding of f"C]-penicillin and absorption of [*H]-tetracycline were assayed in the range of minimum inhibitory concentration levels, to compare sensitive and multiple drug resistant strains of N. gonorrhoeae. Levels for both drugs were significantly higher in the sensitive strains. However, the effect of temperature differential on drug concentration pattern indicated that interference on the part of the resistant cell for penicillin related to passive diffusion and for tetracycline to facilitated diffusion. Thus, resistance in common to penicillin and tetracycline does not appear to rely on the outer membrane in N. gonorrhoeae