Neisseria Flashcards
(95 cards)
Neisseria
Aerobic, non-motile, non spore forming, gram negative diplococci with adjacent ends flattened that resemble tiny (2), except: (3) which are rod shaped.
“coffee beans” or “kidney beans”
N . weaveri
N .elongata
N. bacilliformis
All are catalase positive and cytochrome
oxidase positive, except:
N. elongata subspecies nitroreducens
N. bacilliformis
T or F
Neisseria
Capnophilic (3-10% CO2) and humidophiles
True
Neisseria
• Optimal temperature:
• Natural habitat:
between 35C and 37C (32C-36C)
Mucus membranes of the RT and urogenital tracts
Primary pathogens:
N.gonorrhoea & N.meningitidis
Neisseria gonorrheae (______)
and Neisseria meninigitidis
(_____) are highly fastidious:
Require_____ for growth
• Require_____ media for growth
gonococci
meningococci
iron
enriched
: grows on enriched CAP supplemented with
cysteine
X (hemin)
V (NAD or Coenzyme 1) factors
N.gonorrheae
- derived from: LYSED RBCS
- can derived from RBCs, but abundantly produced by some bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and can be obtained from yeast, yeast extracts and potato extracts
X factor
V factor
require SBA as the minimal growth
standard.
Neisseria meninigitidis (and Moraxella cattarhalis)
Neisseria
Note: Both organisms are highly sensitive to______ and must be protected from____!
They must be_____ immediately on their respective primary isolation media.
temperature changes
cold
inoculated
Remember!!
Enriched CAP for…
Remember!! Sheep Blood Agar (BAP) for…
Neisseria gonorrhea
Neisseria meningitidis
NEISSERIA
Virulence Factors
Receptors for human transferrin
Polysaccharide Capsule-
Pili
IgA protease
Cell membrane proteins
LOS (Lipooligosaccharide)
-competes human hosts for IRON
Receptors for human transferrin
- (N.meningitides only) -
resists phagocytosis
Polysaccharide Capsule
- for attachment to host’s mucus membranes;
also for conjugation and transfer of genetic materials such as genes that code for antimicrobial resistance.
Pili
-cleaves IgA antibodies in mucus membranes
IgA protease
Cell membrane proteins
Por (protein I)
Opa (Protein II)
Reduction modified protein (Protein III)
- channel for passage of nutrients and waste products
Coded by…
PorB expressed only by_______
- protective against host’s inflammatory response and complement mediated killing
Por (protein I)
PorA and PorB genes
N.gonorrheae
- facilitate adherence of organisms to phagocytic and epithelial cells
- blocks host IgG
Opa (protein II)
Reduction modified protein (protein III)
- contain the endotoxin portion of the organism
LOS (Lipooligosaccharide)
____ is anchored in the outer membrane.
The____ portion of the LOS contains the____.
During periods of rapid growth, Neisseria gonorrhea releases outer memorane fragments called “____”
which contain LOS.
LOS; Lipid; endotoxin
blebs
In large amounts,_____ can stimulate macrophages to produce increased amounts “pro-inflammatory” cytokines
endotoxins
• Tumor necrosis factor
• Interleukin 1
• Chemokines
• And other inflammatory mediator
Effects of endotoxin
• Prolonged inflammation and fever
• Prolonged vasodilation (vascular permeability)
• Capillary leakage (hemorrhage) - manifested by purpura and petechial rash.
• Hypotension
• Tachycardia - increased heartbeat
• Septic shock - abrupt cessation of the functions of vital organs due to decrease oxygen delivery
• Intravascular coagulation
is a “double-edged” sword. It is beneficial when it is able to achieve its primary purpose in the immune response.
But when it goes south, such as due to endotoxin stimulation, the heightened inflammatory response could be
damaging to the host.
Inflammation