The Phase-Variable Allele of the Pilus Glycosylation Gene pglA Is Not Strongly Associated with Strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Isolated from Patients with Disseminated Gonococcal Infection

The Neisseria gonorrhoeae pglA gene has two alleles, one of which is phase variable. A previous study reported that all disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) isolates contained the phase-variable allele and proposed a causal link. In the present study of 81 strains no absolute correlation between DGI and the phase-variable pglA allele was observed.