Neisseria gonorrhoeae
From DrugPedia: A Wikipedia for Drug discovery
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
It is a species of Gram-negative coffee bean-shaped diplococci bacteria responsible for the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea. It was first described by Albert Neisser in 1879.
| Kingdom | Bacteria |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Proteobacteria |
| Class | Beta Proteobacteria |
| Order | Neisseriales |
| Family | Neisseriaceae |
| Genus | Neisseria |
| Species | N. gonorrhoeae |
| Binomial | Neisseria gonorrhoeae |
Contents |
[edit] Surface Characteristics
Gonococcal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a complex of at least three major antigenic determinants. The ceramide part consists of the following residues : β-D-GalpNAc-(1-->3)-β-D-Galp-(1-->4)-β-D-Glcp-(1-?)-CER-(?--/Ceramide/. The core oligosaccharide part consists of the following residues : α-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->2)-L-gro [branched to β-D-Galp-(1-->4)-β-D-Glcp-(1-->4)] -α-D-manHepp-(1-->3)-L-gro-α-D-manHepp-(1-->5)-Kdo. The other part consists of the following residues : β-D-GalpNAc-(1-->3)-β-D-Galp-(1-->4)-β-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->3)-β-D-Galp-(1-->4)-β-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-L-gro [branched to α-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->2)-L-gro-α-D-manHepp-(1-->3)] -α-D-manHepp-(1-->5)-Kdo
[edit] Transmission
It takes place by sexual means.
[edit] Pathogenic Activity
N. gonorrhoeae can also cause conjunctivitis, pharyngitis, proctitis or urethritis, prostatitis and orchitis.
Conjunctivitis is common in neonates, and silver nitrate or antibiotics are often applied to their eyes as a preventive measure against gonorrhoea. Neonatal gonorrheal conjunctivitis is contracted when the infant is exposed to N. gonorrhoeae in the birth canal and can lead to corneal scarring or perforation, resulting in blindness in the neonate.
Disseminated N. gonorrhoeae infections can occur, resulting in endocarditis, meningitis or gonococcal dermatitis-arthritis syndrome. Dermatitis-arthritis syndrome presents with arthralgia, tenosynovitis and painless non-pruritic (non-itchy) dermatitis.
Infection of the genitals in females with N. gonorrhoeae can result in pelvic inflammatory disease if left untreated, which can result in infertility. Pelvic inflammatory disease results if N. gonorrhoeae travels into the pelvic peritoneum (via the cervix, endometrium and fallopian tubes).
