Lecture 16 Neisseria Flashcards
What are the different species of Neisseria?
pathogens:
- N gonorrhoeae
- N meningitidis
Commensals:
Many (eg N lactamica)
Neisseria are structurally identified by..?
- gram negative diplococci
- non-motile, non- sporeforming
How is Neisseria grown in cx?
-requires enriched CO2 in medium
-oxidase-positive
-Pathogens utilize different sugars:
Gnonococcus: glucose
Meningococcus: maltose and glucose
What is the host range?
- obligate human pathogens
- no good animal model to study
What are structures found in both pathogens?
- G- cell wall
- Major antigens are pili, outer membrane proteins (Por, Opa), LOS (lipooligosaccharide)
What are two host receptors that are utilized by pili?
- CD46 on male urogenital epithelial cells
- CR3 on female cervical epithelium
How is the expression of pili controlled?
Phase variation (transcriptional)
What is the antigenic variation in Pili?
- conserved regions and 6 immunodominant variable regions
- on antigenic type at a time, multiple present but are silent
- expression occurs at one active site
What causes antigenic variation in pili?
-recombination (non-reciprocal) via intrachromosomal or via transformation.
What are two outer membrane protein?
- Por
- Opa
What is Por?
(OMP I)
- Por most abundant structural protein
- Trimers: porin function
- involved in attachment and invasion of host cells by binding to host CR3 receptor
Why is serotyping scheme based on Por?
-each strain has one antigenic type, but there is variation
among strains
Por 1A - (disseminated infection)
Por 1B - (local genital infection)
What is Opa?
(Omp II)
- compromises group of 12 genes (3-4 in meningiditis)
- 0-3 Opa proteins may be expressed in single strain
- expression determines colony phenotype: opaque or transparent
- functions in close attachment to host cells
- Phase switch depending on environment
How is Opa genetically controlled?
- Multiple gene copies, all with promoters
- constitutively transcribed
- translationally controlled
- CTCTT repeats immediately proceeds genes, puts it in or out of phase
What is LOS?
Similar to LPS, but lacks repeating sugar subunit.
- major role in production of inflammatory mediators
- plays a role in attachment
What is Sialylated LOS?
confers serum resistance and attenuates the inflammatory response
What is the pathogenesis in Male vs Female GC?
- infection of males leads to acute urethritis
- infection in females is asymptomatic
What is the mechanism of male pathogenesis of GC?
- attachment to CD46 receptor in urethral epithelium
- Opa expression results in closer adhesion in gonococci and host cells
- GC multiply, reach submucosa, triggers inflammation, can have hematogenous extension.