Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes gonorrhea and can infect the urogenital tract, throat, rectum, and eyes. Its ability to evade immune defenses and acquire antibiotic resistance complicates treatment.

Type IV pili: Filamentous bacterial surface structures used for attachment, movement, and DNA uptake. They help gonococci attach to mucosal cells, move across surfaces, and vary exposed antigens.
Gonorrhea: A sexually transmitted infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, often affecting the genital tract but also the throat or rectum. It is the disease produced by this bacterium and the main focus of clinical care.
Neisseria meningitidis: A related Gram-negative bacterium that can cause meningitis and bloodstream infection. It is a close pathogenic relative, but its capsule and usual disease patterns differ from gonococci.
Albert Neisser: A German physician and bacteriologist who identified the bacterium responsible for gonorrhea in 1879. The genus Neisseria is named for the scientist who first described this pathogen.
Opacity-associated proteins: A family of variable outer-membrane proteins that mediate bacterial adhesion and interactions with host cells. Their changing expression alters how gonococci bind to and interact with host tissues.
Nucleic acid amplification test: A diagnostic method that detects and amplifies specific DNA or RNA sequences in a sample. These tests commonly detect gonococcal genetic material at genital and extragenital sites.
Chlamydia trachomatis: An obligate intracellular bacterium that causes sexually transmitted and eye infections. It can cause similar genital symptoms, so clinicians often test for it alongside gonorrhea.
Neisseria: A genus of Gram-negative bacteria that includes human pathogens and species commonly found in the upper respiratory tract. Neisseria gonorrhoeae is one species within this genus of related bacteria.
Lipooligosaccharide: A short-chain glycolipid in the outer membrane of many Gram-negative bacteria that can trigger inflammation. Gonococcal lipooligosaccharide contributes to inflammation and can mimic human cell-surface molecules.
Gonococcal antimicrobial susceptibility testing: Laboratory testing that measures how susceptible Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates are to antimicrobial drugs. It identifies resistance patterns that can guide therapy when treatment failure is suspected.

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