Neisseria

• Neisseria spp.

  • Aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming, gram-negative diplococci
• Primary human pathogens

  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococci)
  • Neisseria meningitidis (meningococci)
• Neisseria weaveri

  A commensal in the upper respiratory tract of dogs, has been isolated from dog bites in humans
• Neisseria spp

  • Considered opportunistic pathogens
• Virulence Factors

  • Receptors for human transferrin
  • Capsule (N. meningitidis)
  • Pili (fimbriae)
  • Cell membrane proteins
  • Lipooligosaccharide or endotoxin
  • Immunoglobulin A protease
• Protein II (opa)

  Facilitate the adherence to phagocytic and epithelial cells
• Protein III (reduction modified protein)

  Blocks host serum bactericidal action against the organism
• N. gonorrhea

  • An acute pyogenic infection of non-ciliated columnar and transitional epithelium
• Specimen Collection for Neisseria gonorrhoeae

  • Genital sources or from other sites such as the rectum, pharynx, and joint fluid
  • Men: urethra
  • Women: endocervix
• Transport Systems for Neisseria gonorrhoeae

  • James E. Martin Biological Environmental Chamber plates
  • Gono-Pak
  • Transgrow
  • Amies Medium with charcoal
• Neisseria meningitidis


  • Only found in humans
  • Can be found as a commensal as well as an invasive pathogen
• Moraxella catarrhalis


  • Intracellular, gram-negative diplococci
  • Smooth, opaque, gray to white colonies
  • Hockey Puck: Has been used to describe the colony because it remains intact when pushed across the plate with a loop
  • Older colonies may give a "wagon wheel" appearance
• N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningiditis 


  Require iron for growth ; fastidious organism
• Cytochrome oxidase and catalase-positive except:

  Neisseria elongata and Neisseria bacilliformis
• Natural Habitat of Neisseria spp

  MUCOUS MEMBRANES of the respiratory and UROGENITAL TRACTS
• N. gonorrhoeae 


  Sexually transmitted
• N. meningiditis 


  Respiratory droplets
• N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningiditis 


  Compete with their human host by binding human transferrin
• Cell outer membrane proteins

  Protein I (por)

  Protein II (opa)

  Protein III (reduction modified protein)
• porA and porB


  Both expressed in N. meningiditis
• porB


  Only for N. gonorrhoeae
• Gonorrhea

  Meaning "flow of seed"
• Gonorrhea

  • Also called the clap
  • Clapoir meaning brothel in french
• Ophthalmia Neonatorum


  A gonococcal eye infection, during vaginal delivery through an infected birth canal
• Medium of choice for Neisseria spp.

  Chocolate agar
• N. gonorrhoeae 


  Utilizes only glucose and changes the color of media from red to yellow
• N. gonorrhoeae 


  Positive for glucose only
• Neisseria gonorrhoeae


  Acquired by sexual contact and occur primarily in the urethra, endocervix, anal canal, pharynx, and conjunctiva
• Neisseria cineria


  Useful observation for differentiation from Neisseria flavescens is lack of yellow pigment production
• Neisseria flavescens 


  It can be differentiated from N. cineria by its ability to grow on SBA or chocolate agar
• Neisseria lactamica

  • Commonly found in nasopharynx of infants and childrens
  • Similar to Neisseria polysaccharea
  • Only Neisseria species that uses lactose
• N. Mucosa

  • Usually isolated from the nasopharynx of children or young adults
  • Isolated from the airways of dolphins
• N. Mucosa


  Causes pneumonia in children
• N. sicca


  Breadcrumb-like
• N. subflava


  Reported to cause serious infections, such as bacteremia, meningitis, and septicemia
• N. weaveri


  Normal flora microbiota in dogs and can be found in human in infections following dog bites
• Dysuria 


  Painful urination
• Purulent discharge 


  Discharge for men
• Cervical discharge 


  Discharge for women
• 2-7 days 


  Incubation period of gonorrhea