nesisseria

The genus Neisseria
contains two important human pathogens, N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis. N. gonorrhoeae causes gonorrhea, and N. meningitidis is the cause of meningococcal meningitis.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections are acquired by sexual contact and usually affect the mucous membranes of the urethra in males and the endocervix and urethra in females, although the infection may disseminate to a variety of tissues. The pathogenic mechanism involves the attachment of the bacterium to non ciliated epithelial cells via pili and the production of lipopolysaccharide endotoxin. Similarly, the lipopolysaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis is highly toxic, and it has an additional virulence factor in the form of its antiphagocytic capsule. Both pathogens produce IgA proteases which promote virulence. Many normal individuals may harbor Neisseria meningitidis in the upper respiratory tract, but Neisseria gonorrhoeae is never part of the normal flora and is only found after sexual contact with an infected person (or direct contact, in the case of infections in the newborn).
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a Gram-negative coccus, 0.6 to 1.0 µm in diameter, usually seen in pairs with adjacent flattened sides and the organism is frequently found intracellularly in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (neutrophils) of the gonorrhea pustular exudate .
Neisseria gonorrhoeae possesses a typical Gram-negative outer membrane composed of proteins, phospholipids, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, neisserial LPS is distinguished from enteric LPS by its highly-branched basal oligosaccharide structure and the absence of repeating O-antigen subunits. For these reasons, neisserial LPS is referred to as lipooligosaccharide (LOS).
Clinical features:
In women, the major genitourinary symptoms of gonorrhea include the following:
• Vaginal discharge: The most common presenting symptom of gonorrhea, vaginal discharge from endocervicitis is usually described as thin, purulent, and mildly odorous; however, many patients have minimal or no symptoms from gonococcal cervicitis
• Dysuria
• Intermenstrual bleeding
• Dyspareunia (painful intercourse)
• Mild lower abdominal pain
If the infection progresses to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), symptoms may include the following:
• Lower abdominal pain: Most consistent symptom of PID
• Increased vaginal discharge or mucopurulent urethral discharge
• Dysuria: Usually without urgency or frequency
• Cervical motion tenderness
• Adnexal tenderness (usually bilateral) or adnexal mass
• Intermenstrual bleeding
• Fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting (less common)