Sketchy Micro: Neisseria Species Overview

Question 1

How do the Neisseria species appear under the microscope?

Answer 1

As Gram-negative diplococci (like the red handcuffs in the Noir Series that Sketchy uses to teach about Neisseria)

Question 2

What is chocolate agar?

Answer 2

Heated blood agar that looks darker

Question 3

What laboratory tests help identify Neisseria?

Answer 3

It is oxidase positive (like the detective’s ring); it grows on chocolate agar (like the chocolate bar that the detective is eating); and it grows in VPN – vancomycin, polymyxin, and nystatin – agars (like the sign on the detective’s window that says “Private NVestigator”)

Question 4

VPN agars are also called ______________.

Answer 4

Thayer-Martin agars

Question 5

People with ______________ deficiency are at increased risk of Neisseria infection.

Answer 5

C5 - C9 (like how the main star, Thayer Martin, stars as “MAC,” the private eye; MAC is meant to make you think of the membrane attack complex)

Question 6

How does Neisseria escape the immune system?

Answer 6

It can switch out its pili to become antigenically novel.

Think of the detective’s multiple, differently colored pocket-watch chains as standing for pili.

Question 7

What virulence factor helps Neisseria escape antibody attack?

Answer 7

It has an IgA protease (like the Ace in Mac’s hat).