GENOTYPING OF NEISSERIA-GONORRHOEAE

Genotyping of Neisseria gonorrhoeae has proved highly discriminatory. It has been used to differentiate between isolates of the same serovar , to determine the genetic relatedness of antibiotic resistant isolate s and to identify isolates from sexual contacts. This level of resolut ion has been possible because Neisseria gonorrhoeae exhibits a high de gree of genetic variability. The validity of using any typing techniqu e to study temporal or geographical differences of an organism known t o be non-clonal should, however, be carefully considered. (C) 1998 Rap id Science Ltd.