Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Definition

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a gram-negative diplococcus bacterium responsible for the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea. It primarily infects the urogenital tract but can also affect the eyes, throat, and joints.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Neisseria gonorrhoeae uses pili to adhere to and invade host cells, which is crucial for its pathogenicity.
2. It produces an enzyme called IgA protease that degrades immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies, allowing it to evade the immune system.
3. Untreated infections can lead to serious complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women and epididymitis in men.
4. Neisseria gonorrhoeae can cause ophthalmia neonatorum, a severe eye infection in newborns acquired during childbirth.
5. Antibiotic resistance is a significant concern with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, making treatment increasingly challenging.

Review Questions

• What virulence factors does Neisseria gonorrhoeae utilize to infect host cells?
• What are the possible complications if Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections go untreated?
• Why is antibiotic resistance a major issue when treating Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections?

Related terms

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): A serious complication of untreated sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia that affects female reproductive organs.

Ophthalmia Neonatorum: A form of conjunctivitis contracted by newborns during delivery from mothers infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

IgA Protease: An enzyme produced by certain bacteria like Neisseria gonorrhoeae that cleaves IgA antibodies, aiding in immune evasion.