Neisseria

• Gram negative [red] diplococci
• Two important species - neisseria gonorrhea and neisseria meningitis [one lives in the head, the other in pelvis]
• Neisseria meningitis
  • Leading cause of meningitis in young adults
  • Oxidase-positive [ox horns coming out from patient's head]
  • Maltase-positive [likes to drink malt beverages]
  • Grows on chocolate agar
  • Causes cutaneous rash [red brush]
  • YWCA Vaccine exists [syringe]
• Neisseria gonorrhea
  • Ascending infection into uterus and fallopian tubes causes PID - pelvic inflammatory disease
    • Flank pain and arthritis [diplococci on inflamed knees]
  • Can infect eyes of neonates [diplococci on eyes]
  • Grows on Thayer-Martin (New York City) agar
  • Synthesizes IgA protease [antibody molecule broken by neisseria]
  • Causes cutaneous rash
  • In males, causes epididymitis and urethritis [red epididymis and urethra]