Neisseria and Moraxella Lecture Notes

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering the characteristics, virulence factors, clinical symptoms, and laboratory diagnosis of Neisseria and Moraxella species as detailed in the lecture transcript.

Genus Neisseria

Aerobic, nonmotile, non–spore-forming, gram-negative diplococci; many species are capnophilic and fastidious, requiring enriched media for growth.

Capnophilic

Organisms that require carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) for growth enhancement, typically in the range of $5-10\%$, and prefer a humid atmosphere.

Fastidious

Organisms that require enrichment nutrients to grow, such as blood agar or chocolate agar plates.

Selective Media for Neisseria

Culture media containing anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents to specifically allow Neisseria to grow while inhibiting other organisms like Proteus; examples include Martin-Lewis, Martin Agar, and Thayer-Martin.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Also known as gonococci; a highly pathogenic member of the genus and the agent of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea.

Neisseria meningitidis

Also known as meningococci; a highly pathogenic species that causes meningococcemia and meningitis.

Moraxella catarrhalis

A gram-negative coccus formerly known as Branhamella that shares microscopic and biochemical characteristics with Neisseria and manifests "hockey puck" colonies.

Porin Protein A

A cell membrane protein seen in both Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis that facilitates attachment to host cells.

Porin Protein B

A cell membrane protein specifically associated with Neisseria gonorrhoeae used for host cell attachment.

Protein II (Opa)

A membrane protein where "Opa" stands for opacity; it functions in the attachment of the bacteria to host cells.

Protein III (RMP)

Reduction Modified Protein which acts by blocking the action of host $IgG$.

Immunoglobulin A protease

A virulence factor that cleaves $IgA$ on mucosal surfaces to facilitate infection.

Gonorrhea

An acute pyogenic infection of nonciliated columnar and transitional epithelium; the term literally means "flow of seed."

Gonococcal arthritis

A hallmark of systemic infection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae occurring when the organism enters the circulation.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

A complication of gonorrheal infection in women that may lead to sterility, ectopic pregnancy, or perihepatitis (Fitz-Hugh–Curtis syndrome).

Salpingitis

Inflammation of the fallopian tube, often caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which can lead to sterility.

Ophthalmia neonatorum

A gonococcal eye infection acquired by newborns during vaginal delivery through an infected birth canal; prevented by erythromycin eye drops.

PPNG

Penicillinase-Producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae; strains that have developed plasmid-mediated resistance to penicillin-based antibiotics.

Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome

A fulminant form of meningococcemia characterized by disseminated intravascular coagulation, septic shock, and hemorrhage in the adrenal glands.

Purpura

Purple lesions distributed throughout the skin, often seen in fulminant meningococcemia due to bleeding and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Amie’s charcoal medium

A transport medium used with cotton-tipped swabs to inhibit toxic fatty acids that would otherwise prevent the recovery of Neisseria spp.

JEMBEC system

A specialized transport and incubation system for Neisseria gonorrhoeae that is transported at room temperature and incubated in $3-5\%$ $CO_2$.

Kidney bean-shaped

The characteristic microscopic appearance of Neisseria and Moraxella catarrhalis appearing as gram-negative diplococci with adjacent sides flattened.

Neisseria elongata

An exception in the genus Neisseria that appears as gram-negative rods rather than diplococci.

Cystine Trypticase Agar (CTA)

A medium used for carbohydrate utilization tests containing $1\%$ individual carbohydrate and phenol red as a pH indicator.

Oxidase test

A biochemical test determining the presence of cytochrome oxidase; a positive result is a dark purple color within $10$ seconds.

Superoxol test

A test using $30\%$ hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$); Neisseria gonorrhoeae shows a positive result characterized by immediate brisk bubbling.

Butyrate disk test

A rapid test to detect the enzyme butyrate esterase, used for the identification of Moraxella catarrhalis; a positive result is a blue to blue-violet color.

Phadebact GC OMNI test

A coagglutination assay for Neisseria gonorrhoeae identification using Staphylococcus aureus cells coated with antibodies.