Family Neisseriaceae

Joy P. Calayo, RMT, MSMTUST Faculty of Pharmacy

Dept. of Medical Technology

Family Neisseriaceae Members:

◦ 1. Genus Neisseria N. gonorrhoeae

N. meningitidis

N. lactamica

N. sicca

N. flavescens

N. elongata (the only species that are not bean-shaped diplococci)

Family Neisseriaceae Members:

2. Genus Moraxella◦ Subgenus Branhamella catarrhalis

◦ Subgenus Moraxella lacunata

3. Genus Acinetobacter◦ A. iwoffi

◦ A. baumannii

◦ A. calcoaceticus

4. Genus Kingella (member of “HACEK”)◦ K. denitrificans

◦ K. kingae

5. Genus Sutonella◦ S. indoligenes

Genus Neisseria

Key characteristics:◦ Gm (-) bean-shaped diplococci

◦ Obligate aerobe

◦ Non-motile

◦ Oxidase (+)

◦ Catalase (+)

Pathogenic to man: N. gonorrhoeae

N. meningitidis

Normal flora: N. lactamica

N. sicca

N. flavescens

N. elongata

Virulence Factors of Pathogenic Neisseria

Pili- most important (Types I and II)

Pili Types III, IV, V: non-pathogenic

IgA protease

Endotoxin

OM proteins

Protein I

Protein II

Microscopic morphology

Microscopic morphology

Colonies on Culture Media

Identification of Genus NeisseriaNeisseriaspecies

BA 250C

CA250C

NA350C

MTM CTA(CHO

fermentation)G—M—L

30% H2O2

testONPG

gonorrhoeae -- -- -- + + - - + --

meningitidis -- -- -- + + + - - --

lactamica + or --

+ or --

+ -- + + + - +

sicca + + + -- +/d + - - --

flavescens + + + -- - - - - --

B.catarrhalis

+ + + -- - - - - --

Colonies of Family Neisseriaceae on CA

Organism Appearance

N. gonorrhoeae Gray-white

N. meningitidis Gray-white, mucoid (due to capsule)

N. lactamica Gray-white with yellow halo

N. sicca Gray-white, wrinkled, adherent, (resemble

bread crumbs)

N. flavescens Golden yellow

Branhamella catarrhalis Gray-white with wavy sides/borders (resemble wagon-wheel)

Other biochemical reactionsOrganism DNAse test NO3 (Nitrate

reduction)

Neisseria gonorrhoeae - -

Neisseria meningitidis - -

Neisseria lactamica - -

Neisseria sicca - -

Neissreia flavescens - -

Branhamella catarrhalis + +

Genus Neisseria

N. gonorrhoeae: causes STD (“tulo” or “clap”)◦ Causes neonatal gonococcal eye infection (opthalmia neonatorum); treated by 1% AgNO3

(Crede’s Prophylaxis)

Genus Neisseria

N. meningitidis: causes meningococcemia◦ Other diseases: epidemic meningitis

invasive meningitisWaterhouse Friedrichsen Syndrome (hemorrhage of adrenal glands)

“pneumonia-like” meningococcemia

o Virulence Factor: capsuleo MOT: nasopharyngeal route through droplets or person to person contact

o Rx: Penicillin

Take Note!

All members of Family Neisseriaceae are catalase (+) except Genus Sutonella

All members are oxidase (+) except Acinetobacter

Only B. catarrhalis and K. denitrificans are nitrate producers

All are non motile

Genus Moraxella

Subgenus: Branhamella catarrhalis◦ Gm (-) bean-shaped diplococci◦ Obligate aerobe◦ Non motile◦ Oxidase (+)◦ Catalase (+)

Subgenus: Moraxella lacunata◦ Same as with Branhamella, but the cells are gm (-) short coccobacilli in pairs

Genus Acinetobacter

A. iwoffi: non-carbohydrate fermentercolorless colonies on MacConkey

A. baumanii: carbohydrate fermenterpurple-lavender colonies on

MacConkey

Other characteristics: oxidase (-), gm (-) coccobacilli in pairs or in chains

Genus Kingella and Genus Sutonella

NO3 producer Indole production

K. denitrificans + -

K. kingae - -

S. indoligenes - +

Additional readings: Mahon

Chapter 17◦ Page 378: The Family Neisseriaceae

◦ Page 381: Table 17-2, Selective media for pathogenic Neisseria species

◦ Page 383: Table 17-3, Culture-based methods for ID of Neisseria and related species

◦ Page 385: Table 17-5, Characteristics of significant species of Neisseria, Moraxella, Kingella