Moraxella catarrhalis
From DrugPedia: A Wikipedia for Drug discovery
Moraxella catarrhalis
It is a Gram-negative, aerobic, oxidase-positive diplococcus that may both colonize and cause respiratory tract-associated infection in humans.
| Kingdom | Bacteria |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Proteobacteria |
| Class | Gammaproteobacteria |
| Order | Pseudomonadales |
| Family | Moraxellaceae |
| Genus | Moraxella |
| Species | M. catarrhalis |
| Binomial | Moraxella catarrhalis |
Contents |
[edit] Surface Characteristics
The LOS consists of an oligosaccharide and lipid A and is similar to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of gramnegative enteric pathogens, but it lacks the O-antigenic side chain of repeating units characteristic of classical LPS. The oligosaccharide part consists of the following residues : α-D-Galp-(1-->4)-β-D-Galp-(1-->4)-α-D-Glcp-(1-->2)-β-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-α-D-Glcp [branched to α-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->2)-β-D-Glcp-(1-->4)] and [branched to β-D-Glcp-(1-->3)] -(1-->5)-Kdo[ branched to Kdop-(2-?)]
[edit] Pathogenic Activity
These bacteria are known to cause otitis media, bronchitis, sinusitis, and laryngitis. Elderly patients and long-term heavy smokers with chronic pulmonary disease should be aware that M. catarrhalis is associated with bronchopneumonia, as well as exacerbations of existing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
[edit] Virulence
Lipooligosaccharide is considered one possible virulence factor. The great majority of clinical isolates of this organism produce beta-lactamases and are resistant to penicillin. Resistance to trimethoprim, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) and tetracycline have been reported. It is susceptible to fluoroquinolones, most second and third generation cephalosporins, erythromycin and amoxicillin-clavulanate.
