MULTIPLE GONOCOCCAL PILIN ANTIGENIC VARIANTS ARE PRODUCED DURING EXPERIMENTAL HUMAN INFECTIONS

Gonococcal pilin variation is thought to allow immune evasion and chan ge the adherence properties of the pilus. We have examined the process of pilin antigenic variation in human volunteers inoculated with stra in FA1090. Our data show that pilin variation occurred throughout the process of infection, that at each time sampled after inoculation mult iple pilin variants were present, and that later pilin variants appear to be recombinants between previously expressed genes and the silent storage pilin copies. Thus, during infection a large repertoire of pro teins are available to the population to help avoid immune responses, to provide pill with varying functions, and to transmit to a new host.