Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitides are Gram-negative diplococci (kidney bean-shaped) with flattened sides. They are characteristically found inside polymorphonuclear leucocytes. They are non-sporing, non-motile, and oxidase positive.
They have exacting growth requirements and do not grow on ordinary media. Growth occurs on media enriched with blood or serum like Chocolate Agar, Thayer Martin Agar, and Modified New York City Medium.
Some of the notable differences between them are:
| Characteristics | Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Gonococci) | Neisseria meningitides (Meningococci) |
| Capsule | No polysaccharide capsule | Yes (has a prominent polysaccharide capsule, and is divided into 13 serologic groups on the basis of capsular antigens) |
| Pili | Yes (one of the most important virulence factors; nonpiliated strains are avirulent) | Yes |
| Portal of Entry | Genital | Respiratory |
| Disease |
| Meningitis and meningococcemia |
| Glucose Fermentation | Yes | Yes |
| Maltose Fermentation* | No | Yes |
| β-Lactamase Production | Common | Rare (Penicillin G is the treatment of choice for meningococcal infection) |
| Vaccine available | No | Yes (conjugate vaccine and unconjugated vaccine are available) |
* The differentiation between Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae is made on the basis of sugar fermentation: meningococci ferment maltose (MM), whereas gonococci do not.
Acharya Tankeshwar
Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I am Tankeshwar Acharya. Blogging is my passion. I am working as an Asst. Professor and Microbiologist at Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Nepal. If you want me to write about any posts that you found confusing/difficult, please email at microbeonline@gmail.comKeep Reading
One response to “Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococcus) Virulence Factors”
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Hello sir, can u please explain me the use of various gene targets i.e E, N, & RdRp gene in pcr for diagnosis of covid 19. What does presence of E gene reveal abd presence of other genes reveal.
Thanks & regards
Varsha.